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October 28, 2023 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 28 October 2023

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General Debate

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artemisia

Graham Adams takes a swipe at the oleaginous John Campbell in his article Does learning te reo make you virtuous?

And since Wellington City Council is in the spotlight for unbridled spending OPM these days, I haven’t noticed anything public about the council’s declared strategy to be a bilingual city. Like – is it still a strategy, what’s the cost and outcomes, are the outcomes being achieved. Or just the inputs.

Did I mention OPM?

https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2023/10/27/does-learning-te-reo-make-you-virtuous/#more-25135
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October 28, 2023 8:05am
- Graeme Hall
  
  “oleaginous” – perfect descriptor for John Campbell.
  
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  October 28, 2023 2:25pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    “oleaginous”
    Oh you mean “slippery?”
    
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    October 28, 2023 3:22pm
    - Sarkozygroupie
      
      “Oozing charm from every pore as he oiled his way around the floor”.
      
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      October 28, 2023 10:01pm
Vinicius

Karl du Fresne has an opinion piece over at at Bassett, Brash & Hide criticising the media especially during the post-election period. He mentions the media not liking it when Luxon has refused to tell them anything substantive during the coalition talks. The piece is titled “Suddenly unimportant – and it hurts”

Here is a couple of quotes from the article.

“Thus we get moments of exquisite preciousness from people such as NewstalkZB’s Jason Walls, whose pride was wounded when Christopher Luxon said he wouldn’t indulge in “parlour games” with the media over the substance of coalition talks.”

AND

“TVNZ’s Jessica Mutch-McKay was another who pompously played the journalists-as-noble-guardians-of-the-public-interest card.”

https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/karl-du-fresne-suddenly-the-media-are-unimportant-and-it-hurts
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October 28, 2023 8:08am
G152

After watching many Facebook videos I wonder how the US survives.
Police are allowed to lie to the general population and constantly do and that population isnt allowed to lie to the police.
Odd.
And they bail up photographers on the street and demand the photog deletes the video or ‘arrest’ the photog until someone of higher rank tells the police that photography from a public place is permitted.
And all the police are wearing body cameras while pulling this crap….
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October 28, 2023 8:14am
- Clown
  
  ‘Delete photos’ /facepalm. Any photo I take is auto backed up into my iCloud – the yank cops aren’t very smart apparently.
  
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  October 28, 2023 11:35am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    That’ where mine go. Makes sense, not to hide it from Police whatever, but two trips to Alaska via Hawaii we have some 22,000 photos and vids (drone as well)
    They are stored in many places, including a ‘Cloud.”
    
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    October 28, 2023 3:26pm
Lee C

Complete following statement.

“Trump was right about……”
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October 28, 2023 8:17am
- Chuck Bird
  
  “Trump was right about Iran”
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:21am
  - Wayne Mapp
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Trump’s cancellation of the nuclear agreement means Iran is way closer to the bomb than it would otherwise have been. Probably only a month or so away. Possibly even has it now. Which maybe why it is now so emboldened.
    The agreement would have pushed it out beyond 2030. That would have bought time to build the overall relationship and permanently defer Iran getting the bomb. But of course Trump knew best, being the master of the deal.
    
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    October 28, 2023 11:59am
    - All_on_Red
      
      Oh please
      Now do Obama and how he and now Biden have practically paved the way for Iran to have the Bomb and did so deliberately.
      
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      October 28, 2023 12:38pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Wayne, Did you ever consider that the Iranians would have got to this same place if the nuclear agreement was still in force?
      
      Or do you naively believe that the Iranians would not pursue a nuclear option given their neighbor and major threat had the nuclear ability.
      
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      October 28, 2023 3:45pm
    - NothingLeft
      
      Sure sure. Because Iran have always followed rules they disagree with. They have had a nuclear weapons program for decades, critical issue has been centrifuges; but under cover of nuclear reactor fuel concentration they have had that for a decade now.
      
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      October 28, 2023 4:59pm
    - JimBobJoe
      
      Wayne. IRG are determined to have a nuke. Every agreement that the Iranian Government signs means nothing to the IRG and is in fact just a smoke screen designed to allow the IRG to get a nuke.
      
      The only thing stopping Iran getting a Nuke is Israel Special Ops (probably leveraging help from the Azeri minority inside Iran)
      
      I think your rationale, calculating political brain fails to account for Religious Zealotry. Iran is a theocracy – its drives are not worldly…
      
      Its a matter of when Iran does something incredible stupid in the nuclear domain, regardless of treatys or deals with the US… and then we should all start praying
      
      [Mod note to all. Drop the little personal jabs and debate without making it personal]
      
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      October 28, 2023 5:24pm
- kowtow
  
  Well it’s amazing , isn’t it.
  
  Today’s Herald editorial places the blame for the Hamas terror attacks on a peace initiative from the Trump White House .
  
  Incredible.
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:22am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I just read that and spilt a little bit of beer.
    That is of course Trump’s fault.
    No sarc!
    
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    October 28, 2023 2:58pm
- Chris Nisbet
  
  Just lop off the last word.
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:41am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  “Trump was right about everything again.”
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:45am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Downticks? Must be that Mike lurking about again. I know he is here.
    
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    October 28, 2023 9:01am
Benedict Yu

This poor kid was doomed from birth.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/ruthless-empire-death-birth-of-killed-toddler-was-never-registered/BRJVL53AINBYXO6NRADLDCJP4I/

No surprise – DIA rejected the name “Ruthless-Empire Souljah-Reign Rhind Shepherd Wall”. However now we get this from the DIA spokesperson. Straight from the Waikato University School of “Communications Studies”.

““However, there can be numerous reasons why people do not register births within that timeframe.

“Where we are aware of delays in birth registration we work with whānau to remove any barriers they may have to completing registration.””

What utter rubbish. The infant was nearly two years old and did not yet have a birth certificate. That should have set off alarm bells because it is a warning sign of a dysfunctional family. But DIA – no nothing to see here.

““I believe that at this time the focus should be on Baby Ru, his sad death, and his grieving family and community.” 🙁

Here is an idea. If a baby has not been registered after 6 months, DIA chooses a name at random from the 10 most popular names from the previous year. That is the baby’s name. Then launch a full scale investigation of the child’s welfare.
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October 28, 2023 8:24am
- John Loveridge
  
  The name alone is a warning sign of a dysfunctional family.
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:27am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I think if we read between the lines…
  Baby Ru was in the Oranga Tamariki system.
  
  What we need to know is who was monitoring his welfare in the few weeks since he had been returned to his mother’s care….and why he was returned to that environment when at least one person in the house was facing numerous charges for assault (and other charges).
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/300996969/person-connected-to-toddler-homicide-inquiry-facing-violence-charges
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:33am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    It looks like the three suspects have pulled down a cone of silence. Unless one of them flips it could be difficult to get a conviction.
    
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    October 28, 2023 8:45am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Kahui twins situation?
      
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      October 28, 2023 8:53am
      - John Loveridge
        
        Sorry Steve, my fat finger just downticked you by mistake. I was thinking the very same thing.
        
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        October 28, 2023 8:54am
      - Gravelroad
        
        I believe the Kahui twins situation – re code of silence- was due to gang involvement and intimidation of people who knew what happened but were too scared to speak up.
        As for Oranga Tamariki- who is the most important to them? Doesn’t seem to be the at risk children they are paid huge money to protect.
        The dogs more important and valued than kids anyway.
        
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        October 28, 2023 9:10am
    - Opie
      
      Convict them all them. Easy.
      
      If they don’t talk, just make up the scenario. Its pretty easy to work out whats happened
      
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      October 28, 2023 9:06am
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Collective punishment, good idea. Someone will squeal once they are in jail.
        
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        October 28, 2023 10:46am
      - imalwaysright
        
        What about a strategic airstrike. At least the killer will be dead.
        
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        October 28, 2023 11:59am
    - RichardF
      
      In the 12 hours it took for the kid to be taken to hospital the scum bags were probably trying to get their story straight. “He chocked on wipes” etc. Or they were too busy partying. Probably both.
      
      Maybe we need parenting licenses?
      
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      October 28, 2023 10:05am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    SOCKs again?
    
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    October 28, 2023 8:51am
    - Sacha
      
      Who knows? I guess not the mother.
      
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      October 28, 2023 8:53am
  - Southern Raider
    
    First action by NACT should be to disband OT. Who cares about tax reform etc, the priority should be on a Govt agency who is a complete failure and is complicit in dozens of kids being brutally murdered and hundreds still living in constant states of assault.
    
    As a society we need to be clear. Your whanau is not worth shit, if you treat your kids worse than animals you have no rights and we will remove all your kids and give them to loving caring pakeha families
    
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    October 28, 2023 9:11am
- Paulus
  
  Mohamed surely !
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:38am
- artemisia
  
  Surname of Baby Ru is being reported as Ahipene-Wall, so even longer.
  
  First name sounds like from a vid game.
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:45am
  - lifesgood
    
    I guess all those surnames are the possible fathers.
    
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    October 28, 2023 1:22pm
- Rodney Hide
  
  I suspect the problem is the sheer numbers with tens of thousands of children seriously at risk. We see the tragic deaths. Not the potential for such tragic outcome which is massive.
  
  Also, a government department is incapable of preventing kids being abused and killed when government itself sponsors and subsidises irresponsible parenting.
  
  Rodney Hide
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:45am
  - lastmanstanding
    
    Rodney
    For years I have advocated applying the same principles that are applied to Health and Safety to the care of babies and children. That is you remove the hazard or in this case you remove the baby or child from the hazard. Alas the “feelings” of the perp and those around them are considered more important than the life of the baby or child.
    I say what we have is State assisted death and suffering due to the ethnicity of the perp and those around them being more important than anything else.
    
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    October 28, 2023 9:11am
    - Southern Raider
      
      Fully agree. Look at the amount of effort and money Work Safe put into prosecuting tour operators over White Island.
      
      Work Safe should be spending that money taking OT to court
      
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      October 28, 2023 9:14am
    - Gertie
      
      Being a farmer I see bad or inexperienced mothering regularly. Often a young mother learns from losing an offspring. Young brains arent good at seeing danger. These animals are just culled. Some miss that process and given another chance generally become more successful. Mothering isnt always ingrained, experience helps. I keep this in mind before judging human mothers. I also keep in mind the young deaths I see on the farm. Sometimes its bad luck, bad mothering or a bit of both. But it is just mother nature at work and we need to calm down a little and understand life really is about survival of the fittest. If a parent loses a child…it is THEIR learning experience.
      Perhaps its a harsh way of looking at it as each child is precious but just like lambs and calves, we cant save them all.
      
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      October 28, 2023 10:13am
      - kowtow
        
        ‘each child is precious’
        
        Are they though .
        
        Ardern, the Queen of Kindness, was publicly proud of expanding our abortion rules and taking it out of the realm of the Crimes Act .
        
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        October 28, 2023 12:20pm
      - wsk12345
        
        So do the cows and bills beat the calves for fun? I spend a lot of time on the hills and I’ve never seen a group of ewes crowd around baaing in joy and excitement as other sheep beat the lambs to death for fun and giggles and to feel powerful.
        
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        October 28, 2023 12:39pm
      - Matt Long
        
        If not for fun farm animals do bash and injure young ones they don’t recognise as their own, some cows even kick the crap out of their own calves when they try to suckle.
        The animal world is a cruel one, just like the world inhabited by savages was.
        
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        October 28, 2023 5:17pm
  - kiwikidsnz
    
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/501097/oranga-tamariki-not-saying-whether-involved-with-family-of-hutt-toddler-ruthless-empire
    
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    October 28, 2023 9:29am
    - Keith White
      
      If they’re not saying they weren’t, then they were.
      
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      October 28, 2023 12:20pm
- peterwn
  
  The father of the late Queen Mother was fined for not registering her within the required time.
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:30am
- Damocles11
  
  Will the new government change the name of this agency from the ridiculous ‘Oranga Tamariki’ to something sensible that is universally understood by all New Zealanders? ‘Oranga Tamariki’ is an utter failure, the name is synonymous with violence and abuse and incompetence and Kelvin Davis, moreover the staff are in a no-win situation: castigated and condemned if they uplift vulnerable Maori children, castigated and condemned if they fail to prevent Maori killing their children.
  If Maori want to start their own by-Maori, for-Maori child services entity with Iwi funds (and they should) then they can give that entity a Maori name; hands off New Zealand government agencies, give them a name that is imbued with respect and is readily understood by all.
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:56am
  - alwyn.a
    
    “change the name of this agency”
    
    That sounds like a great idea. We could rename it to something like “Ministry for Children” or perhaps “Ministry for Vulnerable Children” and perhaps they might remember what they are supposed to be doing.
    
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    October 28, 2023 3:01pm
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  But I thought Sue Bradford’s anti-smacking legislation was going to make child abuse a thing of the past …
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:22am
  - kowtow
    
    It was designed and intended to make parenting a thing of the past ……….and in huge swathes of the land , it worked.
    
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    October 28, 2023 11:08am
- Piniwi
  
  No surprise that DIA along with most Government Departments and Agencies have slid to previously unseen lower level of incomitance while more emphasis is given to being culturally aware and woke. Even examples of breakdowns of communications of separate divisions or “teams” within Departments where a simple process/request can be stalled or put on hold by another “team” and nobody knows the “why” until you ask them.
  They do seem to be aware of the expletive response from callers being told of long waits quoted in minutes might have been prompted by the “recorded conversations for training purposes” to have them offer to call you back when you are finally at the front of the list. Only a subsequent call will confirm if that was a one of or the new way to handle long call ques.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:30am
- ecco
  
  Listened to Michael Laws on the platform yesterday absolutely ripping into Maori leaders about their silence over this act. Great to see a show calling it like it is. He said if you take the Maori numbers out of the nz stats of killing your children we don’t have a problem. It’s a Maori thing. They need to sort it out. No one else can do anything about it. They have thrown enough taxpayer money at these dysfunctional people.
  
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  October 28, 2023 4:25pm
Nukuleka

Time surely for Maori leaders to start having serious conversations about the plight of vulnerable children within dysfunctional Maori families. There are, of course, cruel and evil people within all societies but it is self – evident that the majority of battered, bruised and murdered children in New Zealand are Maori.

And it’s nought to do with colonisation.
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October 28, 2023 8:30am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  And it’s nothing to do with material poverty… or I’d suggest quite a few of us would not be alive today if the poverty that our grandparents/great gdparents endured had driven them to killing the babes in their families.
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:39am
  - Swifty
    
    Blaming feral, vicious and disgraceful behaviour, especially that that harms children, on poverty is a great insult.
    
    An insult to all New Zealanders but particularly those of us and our forebears who have done it tough, often very tough, without even dreaming about harming or neglecting our children.
    
    Those that push this line should be ashamed of themselves. They make me sick.
    
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    October 28, 2023 8:50am
  - kowtow
    
    Too right .
    
    many of us are of an age such that our parents were brought up through the depression and war years with little or no welfare
    
    whose schools weren’t exactly flash
    
    whose prospects weren’t great
    
    whose homes weren’t insulated or double glazed
    
    who faced discrimination as one type of minority or other
    
    And yet they managed to be civic minded , law abiding, productive and quietly proud achievers.
    
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    October 28, 2023 8:55am
  - John Loveridge
    
    Quite true, Maggy. There principal factors are cultural. And nothing will change until Maori leaders actually admit the problem and own it.
    
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    October 28, 2023 8:57am
    - Taieri
      
      until Maori leaders actually admit the problem and own it
      ————-
      
      There’s bugger all Maori or any other “leaders” can do about it. You’re right, it’s cultural. It is called a breakdown of the family and an abandonment of societal standards.
      
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      October 28, 2023 12:54pm
      - Paulus
        
        Helen Clark and her cohorts like Margaret Wilson and Judith Tizard started the breakdown of the traditional family unit and Ardern just carried on rather more widely and indiscriminately.
        It appears to be predominantly a Maori problem – why ? – Colonialism ? but there are no pure Maori.
        I could suggest other areas but would be castigated in suggesting the intergenerational aspect of mentality of intermarriage (sic) over many years, and why are our mental health figures growing exponentially.
        
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        October 28, 2023 2:17pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        Some perspective.
        Child violence.
        The same thing has happened in the USA.
        When Lyndon Johnson introduced social welfare?! to help breakup Black families who might vote Republican!! Make them dependent on Democratic controlled welfare handouts.
        
        Yep sounds crazy, but there is evidence to support it.
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef_79INE2m8
        
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        October 28, 2023 3:01pm
  - JackRabbit
    
    So true Maggy. It is all a case of mindest.
    
    “We are poor, so need to cut down to basics, forgo luxuries, and get a second job, so our children can have their needs met.”
    
    vs
    
    “We are poor, so it is our right to steal from rich pricks to keep up our bad habits, and thump baby if it keeps squealing.”
    
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    October 28, 2023 10:46am
  - plc
    
    It is simply a lack of character.
    
    Being responsible for your own actions and choices.
    
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    October 28, 2023 10:53am
- Colville
  
  That conversation is 30 years overdue.
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:39am
- Im Right
  
  As long as maori hold onto the myth that maori lead a life of peace, unity, and idyllic life, before the arrival of Cook and ‘colonisation’, then EVERYTHING bad is the fault of colonisation.
  End of story….
  When there was no written language, it means that folktales and word of mouth accounts take precedence, this means everything was wonderful before the white man arrived, after all who is ever going to pass down stories of terrible times to future generations, they will always be tales of heroics and happy times!
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:39am
- Hacked-Off
  
  I agree with you Nukuleka, but that will not happen as they would have to criticise themselves for their utter failure to show leadership in the many far too numourous similiar incidents that have occurred. Far easier to blame colonialization, whitey and to demand more money in compensation to stuff in thier pockets. This is what co-governance looks like.
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:41am
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  I would guess that there are relationships other than ethnicity between child abuse and deaths.
  
  Factors such as income level, education, drug/alcohol abuse, culture and location would also have a strong influence.
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:41am
- kowtow
  
  Time surely for te media pardy to demand Maori “leaders” to account for what’s going on. Stop glorying in their “victories” ,stupid fashion statements , guitar strumming or how they’re so “connected” to the long distant mythical past the environment or whatever other squirrel the media invent for them.
  
  They do when it comes to say the churches , certain political parties and movements ,Pharmac or anyone else who questions te media .
  
  Afterall don’t te media pardy claim to subscribe to “maori solving maori issues”.
  
  Stop going along with blaming “colonialism” , or ‘cis white males ‘ and start asking serious questions of the people who claim to represent “our people” or who’re actually involved in this pandemic of violence towards the weak , the vulnerable and women .
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:48am
- pdm
  
  Nuku – wasn’t that Marama Davidson’s Portfolio?
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:56am
  - kowtow
    
    her portfolio is “cis white males” done it.
    along with illegal travel to terror enclaves.
    
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    October 28, 2023 8:59am
- Southern Raider
  
  Let’s be honest they just don’t care. Māori kids are at the bottom of the ladder for Iwi leaders to focus on. Better to be crying about colonialism, getting handouts, blaming everyone else and starting in adverts about “how dare our mokopuna are to us” than actually calling out the root of evil and doing something about it
  
  We don’t see this in any other culture around the world
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:18am
- Gertie
  
  Perhaps you should read The Daily Mail. Britain has their fair share of rubbish people/parents. Its everywhere….
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:15am
  - Paulus
    
    Correct re the Daily Mail but many are related to the problems br0ught about by immigrants from the Middle East, and the serious mental problem they have brought through interfamily births.
    
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    October 28, 2023 2:22pm
- Benedict Yu
  
  All the key advisors to the outgoing Government determined that colonisation is the key reason for Maori Family violence.
  
  “Patriarchal norms were imposed on Māori society by British colonisers, and family violence has been exacerbated by New Zealand’s well-documented (and continuing) history of government harassment and neglect of Māori over generations.”
  
  https://awc.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/A-Way-Through-The-Thicket-Full-Version-Final-1.pdf
  
  How many people are aware that the outgoing Government established a new agency to reduce family violence (technically a “Joint Venture” of agencies under the Public Service Act.)? It is called “Te Puna Aonui”. Have you heard of it?
  
  https://tepunaaonui.govt.nz/
  
  It has been allocated hundreds of millions of dollars since 2018 to “eliminate family violence and sexual violence”.
  
  https://tepunaaonui.govt.nz/resources-new/budget-investments/
  
  This outfit – which I am sure 99 percent of folk have never heard of has spent hundreds of millions of dollars over five years. I think the incoming government should ask some serious questions. Of course family violence is awful. Most folk would be happy to spend the money if this new agency really could “eliminate” family violence. I am not convinced that is the case.
  
  Spending hundreds of millions on ‘strategies’ would seem pointless if the violent thugs who beat up women are given home detention because of the trauma of colonisation.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:18am
  - Taieri
    
    All the key advisors to the outgoing Government determined that colonisation is the key reason for Maori Family violence.
    ————
    
    All those key advisors are fucking imbeciles.
    Half of the humanity was colonised, invaded, suppressed and subjected to all sorts of violence at one time or the other. Look at the history of Europe in the 20th century. Two extremely violent wars, changes of borders where whole countries have been shifted on the map, ethnic cleansing and mass population exchanges. Half of a century of the communist rule for half of that continent.
    Or China, with all the Mao’s experiments…
    
    In what way is the colonisation of the Maori unique?
    
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    October 28, 2023 1:05pm
    - Benedict Yu
      
      Look what Japan did to Taiwan in the late 19th century. Then they got stuck into Korea in the 20th century.
      
      If you want an extreme example of national trauma look at Poland. Totally pounded by the Nazis in WW2 and then totally screwed over by communists from 1945 to 1989. Poland suffered about 6 million deaths in WW2. Yet look at Poland today.
      
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      October 28, 2023 1:45pm
      - Taieri
        
        If you want an extreme example of national trauma look at Poland.
        ————
        
        That country had shifted westwards by some 200 km or so after the WW2. And lost its statehood entirely for 120 years, following the partitions in the 18th century. I wonder what’s the “family violence” situation there?
        
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        October 28, 2023 2:35pm
      - Benedict Yu
        
        “I wonder what’s the “family violence” situation there?”
        
        I looked it up. It is not great 🙁 But I suspect vodka is to blame rather than the Nazis or the communists.
        
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        October 28, 2023 6:00pm
- mawm
  
  Nukuleka – I agree with you.
  
  Many in these communities are “p” addicted and have the resulting behavioural problems, emotional instability, paranoia and violence that accompanies this drugs use. “P” causes structural brain changes and these behaviours can persist for years.
  
  Problems like this need to be addressed by the community from which these violent thugs come. As others have said families are important, as is stamping out drug abuse. A strong community can have a positive effect.
  
  Government legislation and throwing money at it will not help. It is up to the community.
  
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  October 28, 2023 5:09pm
Opie

Nz. Where there is a website you can go to to understand you covid risk and actions you should take.

The website is literally brought to you by pfizer. Gee, I wonder what they will recommend? Your 6th shot? The definition of insanity.

Interestingly last night it said you may be at high risk if you;
Are older
Have health conditions
Are Maori
Are vaccinated!

Now it’s changed to unvaccinated! An error? Or someone trying to sneak out the truth…
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October 28, 2023 8:39am
- Benedict Yu
  
  I used to think it was OK for pharma companies to advertise direct to the public. I have changed my mind.
  
  There are only two countries in the world (well at least the developed world) that allow pharma companies to advertise prescription only medicine. The USA and New Zealand.
  
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  October 28, 2023 6:07pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Looks like Tom Emmer did not get the numbers for Speaker of the House.
Next on the list is Congressman Byron Donalds (R-FL) Makes Trump happy.

https://patriotpulse.net/donald-trump-is-grinning-from-ear-to-ear-over-this-top-ally-being-the-next-speaker-of-the-house/?
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October 28, 2023 8:39am
- All_on_Red
  
  They have elected Johnson
  He is a great fan of Reagan
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:02am
  - Matt Long
    
    The luvvies are going into paroxysms of rage, apperently the new speaker is a Christian.
    
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    October 28, 2023 9:59am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Speaker’s first speech.
      
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKrtMtZFeP0
      
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      October 28, 2023 10:48am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Thanks. I was getting a few conflicting emails.
    Johnson won, no Emmer won, no Johnson won.
    One outfit said Pelosi was voted back in. They were taking the piss.
    
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    October 28, 2023 10:11am
    - Nickc2
      
      To a Rolf Harris Bongo Drum beat
      ….trust American politics ….SURE CAN. //
      
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      October 28, 2023 10:33am
    - RichardX
      
      Steve Otto(North Shore)
      Thanks. I was getting a few conflicting emails.
      ….
      
      That’s what happens when you rely on shitty sources for your “facts” and information.
      
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      October 28, 2023 12:33pm
John Loveridge

After Chippy has finished grizzling about nasty and malicious rumours I hope he has a reflective thought or two about Charlotte Bellis.

https://www.thepost.co.nz/a/nz-news/350099721/chris-hipkins-new-coalition-partner?utm_source=stuff_website&utm_medium=stuff_referral&utm_campaign=stuff_skybox&utm_id=stuff_skybox
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October 28, 2023 8:45am
- ecco
  
  I predict he’ll stay as the leader for a while. Much better wicket than standard Mp salary. The writing is on the wall and he knows it. No other Labour Party numpty would put themselves forward for the leader at the moment. Bizarre behaviour rolling out a woman he has only really been going out with this year.
  
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  October 28, 2023 4:30pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Oh Grief…

Now the NZ Herald is transitioning to a woman’s magazine

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/chris-hipkins-reveals-more-details-about-partner-toni-grace-they-met-when-she-was-an-intern-in-his-remutaka-office/UI5YICZDU5C3ZAWEW4UVHUJGBY/
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October 28, 2023 8:46am
- Swifty
  
  Don’t screw the crew.
  
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  October 28, 2023 8:50am
- sirknz
  
  $tuff has the same puff piece.
  
  Be interesting to see if Alison Mau writes a piece on this considering the total power imbalance in the relationship…
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:09am
  - Flossie
    
    Funny I was thinking the opposite. That is, power is a great aphrodisiac so perhaps the new status will mean less attraction.
    
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    October 28, 2023 10:50am
- Surely Knott
  
  Chippy and his new flame do a full woman’s day style expose on their new relationship.
  
  But midway through the article “Hipkins said he and his wife had decided about a year prior to “live separately” in a decision he described as being “in the best interest of our family”.
  
  He stated his wife was “still my best friend” and the pair remained “incredibly close”.
  
  The explanation, which he characterised as his “final comment on the matter”, formed part of his plea to New Zealanders to respect the privacy of his wife and two kids.
  
  I wonder how his wife and kid feel about this mornings news?
  
  . Just like Ardern they seek the limelight when the relationship enhances their public profile. But when it turns to custard, the reality is hidden and they say my personal life is private.
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:47am
  - JackRabbit
    
    He stated his wife was “still my best friend” and the pair remained “incredibly close”.
    
    Which by implication makes Toni little more than a sexual accessory.
    
    I don’t know any woman or man for that matter, that would be 100% comfortable being in a relationship where they are not the partner’s best friend, and where the ex is their best friend.
    
    As per Chippy’s 100% pattern of telling porkies, that statement above, has to be pure 100% BS.
    
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    October 28, 2023 10:56am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      “He stated his wife was “still my best friend” and the pair remained “incredibly close”.”
      
      Yeah good luck with that. Either the wife will go toxic or the new “partner” will exit at speed. 🙂
      
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      October 28, 2023 6:34pm
- Damocles11
  
  “Oooeeerr…hands off Hipkins private life, leave his partner out of this”.
  
  As far as I can see it’s been Hipkins himself who is shoving his private life into the public arena. If people then comment, should anyone be surprised?
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:58am
- Matt Long
  
  Slick Willy (Clinton) would be so proud.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:00am
- BeaB
  
  ‘He chuckled’. God help us.
  No wonder the members of the fourth estate are so full of their own importance when they get to write masterpieces like this.
  
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  October 28, 2023 11:27am
- Ra Henare
  
  As I have said before. NZ Media has reduced itself to being about neighborhood gossip.!!!
  
  Real and relevant news is a rare exception.
  
  Check headlines around the world.
  Palestinians wanting a ceasefire! Ready to negotiate!
  Israel ramps up attacks
  Un resolves to have a ceasfire
  
  Meanwhile Stuff leads with
  Traffic jam for free firewood
  Herald
  Grieving Father about loosing Children
  Newshub
  The earths core is leaking
  
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  October 28, 2023 3:58pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    ‘GAZA — In an urgent message intended to clarify its stance, the terrorist organization Hamas explained they were really only wanting Israel to cease fire.
    
    “There seems to have been a misunderstanding,” said Hamas spokesman Abu Ubeida. “When we requested a ‘ceasefire,’ what we really wanted was for the Israeli forces — may they die like dogs — to stop shooting at us so we can continue firing thousands of rockets without any pesky interruptions. So, if you would please tell Israel to stop firing. Ceasefire now. Thank you very much and death to Israel.”
    https://babylonbee.com/news/hamas-explains-they-only-want-israel-to-cease-fire
    
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    October 28, 2023 4:32pm
Simon

Prediction for final. Scott Barrett red card after 5 mins to be offset later by 2 Bok back injuries and replacements. NZ narrow win.
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October 28, 2023 8:52am
pdm

An impertinent rugby question.

If members of the English Rugby Team that I have seen over the last two weekends are so intent on kicking the ball why don’t they play soccer?

They could all kick away to their hearts content then.
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October 28, 2023 8:59am
- kowtow
  
  Despite the “Rugby” it’s still “football”.
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:02am
AJL

So… I recently saw this:

https://www.thenation.com/article/world/these-israeli-survivors-dont-want-revenge/

Basically an article commenting on the often stark seperation between the goals/desires of the Israeli people, and the goals/actions of the Israeli government.

Am curious about peoples thoughts on that one.
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October 28, 2023 9:00am
kevn

Great comments…
https://karldufresne.blogspot.com/2023/10/guest-post-spiro-zavos-thanks-gods-of.html
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October 28, 2023 9:07am
- pdm
  
  kev – Spiro Zavos remains one of the very best sportswriters around.
  
  A shame he left New Zealand for Australia years ago.
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:14am
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    It’s 40+years ago but what was the Greek insult that Muldoon hurled at Zavos. One of you here will remember it. Something about fish and chips, I think.
    
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    October 28, 2023 9:41am
  - kevn
    
    pdm… Same English game style today.
    
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    October 28, 2023 10:11am
Maggy Wassilieff

oh Dear..

another pretend indigenous person..

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/27/buffy-sainte-marie-indigenous-ancestry-canada-documentary

On October 27, 2023, CBC News published Sainte-Marie’s official birth certificate. It indicates that she was born in Stoneham, Massachusetts, to her white, supposed adoptive parents, Albert and Winifred Santamaria.[2] Her son with Dakota activist Sheldon Wolfchild has stated she obtained her claims to Native identity through “naturalization” and not by birth.[57]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_Sainte-Marie
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October 28, 2023 9:14am
- Jack5
  
  Canadians are pretty woke, but have a realistic status for mixed-indigenous race folk: the Metis.
  
  With about 600,000 members, this mixed-race group seems to get equal status with thoroughly indigenous “First Nations” of Canada:
  
  https://www.metisnation.ca/
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:36am
- John Loveridge
  
  It’s all here:
  
  https://www.cbc.ca/newsinteractives/features/buffy-sainte-marie
  
  I was reading it the other day. She’s a real piece of work. Gotta say though, she doesn’t look very white.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:03am
- Surely Knott
  
  If you can identify as a woman why not as indigenous? Sex has much more of a biological basis than race.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:14am
Southern Raider

IDF has shared a 3D model of Hamas’s massive central command and control centre.

Any guesses where it is located? Yep under the main hospital in Gaza.

There might be no fuel in Gaza for general citizens but you can be damn sure that Hamas has enough fuel stored to keep the lights, ventilation and other services going in that underground city for weeks
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October 28, 2023 9:21am
- kowtow
  
  I wonder why no medical , UN , NGO , media , church , etc types have kept so quiet about what is general knowledge about what lies under that “hospital”.
  
  There’s a huge conspiracy of silence and complicity around Palestinian terror .
  
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  October 28, 2023 11:16am
  - Southern Raider
    
    Saw a screen shot from Wikipedia which suggested was general knowledge nearly 10 years ago after Hamas started commandeering wards within the existing hospital.
    
    Fundamental issue is UN would have been well aware of this and other things, but turned a blind eye and continued to pump money into Hamas under the guise of “aid”
    
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    October 28, 2023 11:50am
    - All_on_Red
      
      Its a War Crime
      But not a word is said and that’s hardly a surprise when you see media like AP sharing office buildings with Hamas
      
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      October 28, 2023 2:27pm
- MCōs
  
  Where did they get data from to make the model?
  
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  October 28, 2023 12:33pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    Probably from Lidar
    The US will be giving them access to all the nice surveillance tech as they both look for where the hostages are being held.
    
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    October 28, 2023 12:41pm
Jack5

Today is the official date for commemoration of the old land wars between settlers and Maori, Radio NZ tells us. It says today is Te Putake o te Riri, the national day of commemoration of the wars.

As my quirky contribution, below is a link to a Youtube video of a German enthusiast testing something of a relic of those wars: a replica of the von Tempsky Bowie knife.

Gustavus von Tempsky led an NZ wars equivalent of a settler special forces unit. A colourful Prussian, von Tempsky came to New Zealand after adventure and fighting in Central America and on the Californian gold fields. There he became proficient with the big Bowie knife. During the Maori Wars, he had Bowie knives made in New Zealand and equipped his Forest Rangers with them.

Replicas of the von Tempsky Bowie are made by the New Zealand maker, Svord, and are collected by international knife enthusiasts.

Von Tempsky weapon replica tested:

https://youtu.be/FUZ_TgusF8U?si=0C-r_f0q0TpLloYL

NZ Wars day:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/501128/they-don-t-know-the-history-nzers-know-more-about-foreign-wars-than-our-own
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October 28, 2023 9:23am
- BeaB
  
  Von Tempsky St in Hamilton has been renamed and now recognises a Māori guy with a man bun. No room for swashbucklers any more in this dull, conformist, po-faced age of ours.
  
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  October 28, 2023 11:46am
- Fuzzysnuggleduck
  
  I have one of those Svord bowie knives, and the blade is an axe steel and more like a hatchet in use than a fighting knife.
  I do use it to chop wood, and take it bush, but I would not consider it fully accurate as a Von bowie. In truth, nobody could make a copy since there is no 100% proven original from the wartime batch made in Auckland from wagon spring steel.
  
  I have seen and handled the alleged Von bowie that was previously owned by Richard Stowers (author of Forest Rangers), and shown in the Von Tempsky’s Ghost documentary.
  It was a much more practical fighting knife, whale bone handle, and although the Svord blade is clearly the same general outline and size, and the hand gaurd the same as that example, the Svord bowie is too thick to have a good bevel or to be nimble (and being of Swedish axe steel, is why it works as a wood cutter).
  I have seen another Svord bowie which was not as thick as mine so not sure if there is production variation or it was modified by the owner.
  
  We do have pictures of the bowie of the 2nd Forest Ranger company in their sheaths shown in Von Tempsky’s watercolours, and the pommel should be rounded rather than angular.
  So a neat talking piece for the heft of the blade, but not really a good fighting knife or even the best survival knife.
  I have a replica ‘Arkansaw tooth pick’ from 1840 which is a much better fighting bowie being like a small machette, but to give full credit to Svord than Arkansaw one is crap Pakistani steel and the blade corrugated when cutting branches, while the Svord bowie could cut down a small tree.
  FYI I was cutting firewood in Taman Negara – jungle- in Malaysia once, and in the dark there where sparks from the river stone I was using as an anvil – from striking iron on stone. It did not affect the Svord blade at all and you can work through a branch as thick as a mans wrist no trouble.
  
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  October 28, 2023 12:35pm
Jack5

When Left-wingers like some Green MPs sympathise with Hamas …

Israel is being classified as a case of “settler colonialism” by some international Leftists, such as various chapters of “Democratic Socialists of America” andsections of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Slogans being used include “decolonise Palestine – from the river to the sea”, and “Zionist/Israeli settler colonialism”.

New Zealand also fits the “settler colonialism” description, and so do Australia, North America, and much of Latin America.

Those Israel haters who use the term “settler colonialism,” thusl, by extension, also despise present New Zealand.

The “Wall Street Journal” notes:

“Ironically, while anti-colonialism conceives of itself as a progressive, Left-wing ideology, this understanding of the relationship between people and land is similar to that of Fascism, which was also obsessed with the categories of native and alien. The Nazi slogan “blood and soil” conveyed the idea that German land could only truly belong to its primeval inhabitants.

The present anti-colonialism crusade stems from the writing of the Caribbean-born writer Frantz Fanon. He believed that anti-colonial movements must be violent.

Those who rattle on about decolonialising New Zealand shouldn’t be quickly dismissed as harmless.
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October 28, 2023 9:29am
- kowtow
  
  Funny how these exponents of anti “settler colonialsim” are happy to live off the efforts of said folk and to remain in the very countries that have high standards of living, democracy and stability due to “colonisation”.
  
  They themselves never seem to want to go back to where they came from.
  
  Arabs in Palestine are themselves descendants of migrants/colonists as is their predominant religion which came from south of the Levant at the point of the sword.
  
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  October 28, 2023 11:23am
Gravelroad

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/man-kicks-children-forces-them-to-eat-chilli-sauce-as-punishment/DVZ7VW4CFRBAXEA2FF4JL4ULJM/#
So you force your three kids aged under 10 to eat chilli and then beat them with a wooden spoon and kick them with such force that you fall over.
No worries.
Three months community detention and 12 months supervision.
People get more consequences for cruelty to dogs.
Imagine the outcry if it had been dogs forced to eat chilli…. Kids – not so much.
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October 28, 2023 9:38am
- Damocles11
  
  There are definitely sick people out there who shed tears over cruelty towards animals, but don’t bat an eyelid over the torture or killing of humans.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:00am
  - lifesgood
    
    Yep. Pro abortionists who save the whales. In fact most Greenies are anti humans.
    
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    October 28, 2023 12:54pm
  - Jack5
    
    But there is a link between cruelty to animals and family violence.
    
    A snip from the conclusion of the research linked to below:
    
    A large and growing body of scientific research demonstrates the correlation that can exist between animal abuse, child abuse, and family violence, otherwise known as the Link.
    
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7246522/
    
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    October 28, 2023 1:08pm
    - cmm
      
      “can exist”?
      Either it exists or does not. Saying can exist is saying nothing useful.
      
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      October 28, 2023 1:34pm
      - Jack5
        
        What do you want, a correlation coefficient? Sorry, the study doesn’t provide one.
        
        Another snippet, from the abstract, gives a more precise description of the study finding:
        
        Violence towards animals is a strong predictor that the abuser may inflict violence on people. However, it must not be assumed this is always the case.
        
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        October 28, 2023 2:09pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

America is safe from attacks such as Israel right?
Wrong.

https://buzzbombmedia.com/2023/10/27/former-head-of-cbp-warns-of-coming-terror-attack/?
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October 28, 2023 9:38am
Benedict Yu

How can the cost of a new recreation centre in Christchurch blow out from $300 million to $700 million?

https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/contractor-wants-more-money-and-time-finish-aquatic-centre

Any cost blowout is on the Government, not Christchurch Council.

I’m waiting for the blowout on the stadium currently under construction. The Mayor said it was a watertight fixed price contract. We will see.
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October 28, 2023 9:41am
- kowtow
  
  Any cost blowout is on the taxpayer.
  
  Govts and councils have no money of their own.
  
  But they’re very good at spending opm.
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:58am
- Nickc2
  
  The Govt shut the job down due to Covid.
  I doubt that would have been covered in a fixed-price contract.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:04am
- thirteenstars
  
  Indeed, and we might as well ask why large parts of Christchurch–once NZ’s most beautiful city–still look like Berlin circa 1945, and the parts that have been rebuilt look pretty bleak in their bach-like functionality.
  
  The answer is, this is the kind of rent-seeking stupidity and wickedness that is not only the natural result of, but is actually encouraged by, the tangled web of consenting regulations and special interest groups with utopian ideas about how a city must look, combined with a river of money where tens of millions can be siphoned of with nary a remark and budgets blow out as a matter of course.
  
  I’ve previously remarked that this country has a constant churn of hundreds of projects delayed and sometimes abandoned, and certainly made more costly, by the consenting process. It mostly goes under the radar because these projects are dotted here and there, mostly frustrating the developers and local communities.
  
  But Christchurch is an example of what happens when a major disaster rebuild has the same mentality applied to it.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:45am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    I am somewhat more optimistic about Christchurch (although I never lived here pre-earthquake). I think that the western side of the CBD and the riverside market precinct are looking great. Yes there are some notable vacant sites and eyesores. However I think it is unlikely that consenting issues are the barrier to redevelopment. A developer needs to be convinced that a new hotel or commercial or residential development is a good investment. The ‘blank spaces’ will be filled in but it will take another 20 years I think.
    
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    October 28, 2023 11:17am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Lots of “Big Guys” getting their 10% I guess.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:50am
- peterwn
  
  As things stand it is a fixed price watertight contract. However the contractor finds himself in a big financial hole and wants out. So the client took the contractor to court to close off the excuses the contractor could use to escape the contract. The judge found for the client. The new price being bandied around is what the contractor considers it is going to cost him for the whole contract.
  Admittedly the ‘fixed price’ means little if the contractor throws himself into liquidation, but there would be negative implications for the contractor’s shareholders and wider group and those who have provided bonds and guarantees to the client.
  Unfortunately the contract could still collapse in one way or another meaning the client will need to spend much more money to complete the job.
  
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  October 28, 2023 10:54am
- PeeJay
  
  The contractor on this site has been on a go-slow for months now with minimal activity on site. Further, the site really should never have been selected for this project – there were many concerns raised about this at the time and it was even pointed out that there were underground streams – ground improvement can only do so much. Apparently, the site has been subject to sinking on at least three occasions during construction! The Australian contractor has ended up in disputes on virtually every project it has been involved with in NZ and is quick to go legal over any dispute – most local subcontractors have longs since tired of working with them.
  
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  October 28, 2023 11:04am
bco90

Wanna see AOC saying we need to make a trip to the sun, but go at night because it won’t be so hot?

https://twitter.com/drefanzor/status/1717961933255839761
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October 28, 2023 10:16am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Bad lip reading?
  
  4 1
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  October 28, 2023 10:52am
  - bco90
    
    Completely AI generated.
    
    7 0
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    October 28, 2023 11:07am
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      At 71, I need to find out more about AI, I guess.
      
      3 1
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      October 28, 2023 3:50pm
Bridgenag

Friday Funnies: Halloween Edition
There ain’t no rock’n roll

https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/friday-funnies-halloween-edition?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
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October 28, 2023 10:18am
Bridgenag

WE could do with this one here

This is the actual answering-machine message for the
Maroochydore High School in Queensland, Australia
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Pwghabw4N80?rel=0
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October 28, 2023 10:27am
- PeeJay
  
  Can’t be real but though the last line was funny – if you want this message in another language, move to a country that speaks it!
  
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  October 28, 2023 11:25am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The google machine says it is a hoax.
  But still funny!
  
  6 1
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  October 28, 2023 11:49am
Master Mariner

“Skilling notes NZ has one of the most exposed supply chain positions across advanced economies.”

https://www.interest.co.nz/economy/124907/covid-19-pandemic-and-other-recent-global-disruptions-have-heightened-awareness-new

As part of IEA requirements we must have 90 days Fuel Reserves.
So how does NZ creative accounting account for this ?
https://www.mbie.govt.nz/building-and-energy/energy-and-natural-resources/energy-generation-and-markets/liquid-fuel-market/fuel-security-in-new-zealand

So with all honesty, In regards to big Infrastructure projects in NZ, How can you Price in a contract when you do not know if materials are in the Country, When they will arrive and quality of items purchased.

We really need to secure and itemise minimum stockholding such as Gas, Steel, Concrete , Bitumen and as the article states,
“These at-risk commodities include sugar, wheat, maize, rice, and coffee, which are staples in the New Zealand diet or for livestock production and are not easily substitutable. Furthermore, these foods are imported from only a small number of places, so any disruption in trade flows or production in those countries will severely affect New Zealand’s food security,” Soliman and Greenhalgh say.

Great to see some Media input into this.

Now people can understand that Inflation in NZ will be one of the last countries to come back into 2-3%.

“The Productivity Commission’s final report on its inquiry into the resilience of the NZ economy to supply chain disruptions is due next February. The Ministry of Transport also recently issued an Aotearoa New Zealand Freight and Supply Chain Strategy, whose 62 pages mention “climate change” 29 times and has a heavy focus on decarbonisation.”

I gave up counting how many time Maori where mentioned as well.
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October 28, 2023 10:29am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Steel was a big one at my work. 2 to 6 tons a month.
  Last year and early this year we were facing increases of 10% to 13% monthly.
  Pretty hard to do competitive costings with that rubbish going on. Quite easy to make a product and find out it was quoted but now a loss. That don’t pay the rent, power and wages.
  
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  October 28, 2023 11:07am
Steve Otto(North Shore)

The United Spot.
Jan 6th.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTvajuNl30I
3 2
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October 28, 2023 10:43am
Maggie Pie

Just got back from dropping my partner’s mum out to Sylvia Park.
She was telling me the lead story in the Horrid this morning was all about Chippie and his new paramour.
Like she said…”Dipping your pen in the company’s ink never ends well. Especially if you’re the Prime Minister”

LOL!!
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October 28, 2023 10:48am
- nathie
  
  Who ever would have thought that Hipkins would end up imitating David Lange …
  
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  October 28, 2023 11:45am
  - lifesgood
    
    Mods deleted my earlier post re this so all I will say is that if it had been Luxon it would have been plastered all over the papers. MSM, bunch of hypocrites.
    
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    October 28, 2023 3:07pm
BeaB

I wish the Herald and Stuff would ask Helen Clark what her ‘final solution’ might be for the Israel problem.
As an international Elder, she must have huge stores of wisdom and knowledge to enlighten us. And perhaps some lessons from history.
Is there a reason nobody has asked her? Is it more important to know who Winston has round for dinner?
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October 28, 2023 11:05am
- peterwn
  
  That seems to be the only news that has come out. Perhaps someone saw Chris’s car outside Winston’s house. Another bit of news (I forget the source) is Winston appeared grumpy when in Wellington in the last week. Perhaps Chris has called Winston’s bluff on a few things.
  Now if the media had not been so beastly to Chris in the run up to the election, Chris may have been prepared to find time face the media and talk about the negotiations even though he could only really talk sweet nothings.
  
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  October 28, 2023 2:40pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Stop Co-Governance. Julian Batchelor.

4 minutes into the video she gets really angry and starts talking down to Councilors.

https://stopcogovernance.kiwi/blog/watch-chaos-created-by-maori-lady-in-kaipara-council-meeting/?
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October 28, 2023 11:28am
- Observer of Life
  
  SO: She gives me the impression she’s a teacher. I recall many back in the day that used to talk down to us like that. Dreadful woman.
  
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  October 28, 2023 7:56pm
Maggie Pie

Thort this worth sharing….
my partner was saying Mortgage Rates at around 8% actually look quite attractive.

Hmmm.
8 2
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October 28, 2023 12:15pm
Jack5

You would think the deputy political editor of the NZ Herald, Tom Coughlan, when he writes about inflation, would at very least consider the famous argument on inflation of Nobel Prize economist Milton Friedman.

In an article reprinted in the “Otago Daily Times,” Coughlan argies the world oil price, plus rising local body rates and insurance costs, plus China’s slowing economy will keep inflation a problem for National. He adds incoming Prime Minister Luxon will then just blame Labour for the mess, with the implication there’s nothing else he can do (and thus the dumped Labour team could not have done better).

Friedman pointed out that excess money supply is the cause of inflation, and money supply is what a good central bank addresses to control inflation. The Reserve Bank of NZ hasn’t been a good central bank. Instead, it colluded with the Labour spendaholics and printed billions of dollars through bond issues. It blew out the money supply.

Coughlan demonstrates that the mainstream media, even with their State bribery slashed or eliminated, will attack the new government relentlessly.
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October 28, 2023 12:24pm
- miltonF
  
  Exactly. There’s a reason it’s called “inflation” and not “price increases”. As in the inflation (expansion) of the monetary supply. External factors literally have nothing to do with it. LITERALLY.
  
  It’s pretty easy to figure this out. If we hadn’t of printed any dollars since 2017, what would the NZD be worth right now? It would be worth much more than the USD. How much would imports cost right now if the NZD was worth 1.5 USD? The reality is that imports have actually dropped in price. It’s just that the NZD has lost value even faster. It’s that simple. Compare import prices against gold prices and again, you’ll see this is true. When measured against REAL money, prices are falling.
  
  At the end of the day, inflation is a choice that the govt and RBNZ made, to cover the fact that we were/are bankrupt. It’s an economic illusion. The choice they had was either an economic depression and everyone lost their jobs, or everyone keeps their jobs but can’t afford to buy anything due to inflation. Effectively a devaluation everyone’s wages and savings.
  
  The core problem is the economic destruction.
  
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  October 28, 2023 3:02pm
I remember when

Always interesting to glimpse the road kill when travelling.
Yesterday, on the Otaki to Transmission Gully highway, was the first time I have ever seen a Canadian Goose amongst them.
If it was the result of it being hit by a car I wonder what the repair bill will be.
8 0
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October 28, 2023 12:59pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Ecologist/Cartoonist Bob Brockie has been recording roadkills on his trips since the 1950s.
  
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2345697/Road-kill-counts-in-nature-studies
  
  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/03014220909510147?needAccess=true
  
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  October 28, 2023 4:35pm
Chuck Bird

It appears that that assult has started from air, land and sea.
6 0
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October 28, 2023 1:25pm
- Ghost
  
  Hopefully it will be short with minimal civilian casualties. I see there are talks that the USA has people fighting as well
  
  6 0
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  October 28, 2023 2:00pm
  - kowtow
    
    Certainly USA hostages . there’s about 50 thai hostages too , not to mention many other countries.
    
    9 0
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    October 28, 2023 2:10pm
  - Chuck Bird
    
    It will take many weeks or maybe months.
    
    5 0
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    October 28, 2023 3:29pm
    - Ghost
      
      Let’s hope not, the longer it goes the more chance of it expanding into a a much larger conflict.
      
      7 3
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      October 28, 2023 4:06pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

I have an email from Hobson’s Pledge/Don Brash. I can’t find it on the HP webpage and I don’t know how to link it. Just copy and paste. If someone can give me an idea please say so.
I am sure many others will have this email. Any images will not appear.

Dear Steve,

Do you want only Maori to be allowed to fish, trawl & gather seafood in the Gulf?

The Hauraki Gulf / Tīkapa Moana Marine Protection Bill seeks to do just that.

Rust never sleeps, and it seems neither do those intent on creating a racially divided New Zealand.

>> Submissions for this bill will close on November 1, and we are urging you to voice your concerns <<
The legislation progressing through Parliament aims to triple the area within the Hauraki Gulf for special protection.

Fishing, trawling and seafood harvesting in most of these areas will be restricted to those identifying as ‘tangata whenua’ (Maori people of a particular locality).

The Hauraki Gulf is a massive area of more than 1.2 million hectares. It serves a significant proportion of New Zealand’s population and includes more than 50 islands within the Gulf, including the Mokohinau, Little Barrier, Kawau, Waiheke, Noises and Great Barrier Islands.

The opportunity to protest this racially based preference ends at midnight on Wednesday 1st November 2023.

We are asking you to make a quick submission on the link below, simply cutting and pasting the following, or stating in your own words:

I support the proposed extensions of the two existing marine reserves: Cape Rodney – Okakari Point Marine Reserve (Goat Island) near Leigh and the Whanganui A Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve on the Coromandel Peninsula – where all fishing, trawling and harvesting of seafood is banned for all people.
I oppose the proposed Seabed Protection Areas which allow ‘customary rights’ to be exercised by tangata whenua, while banning all other New Zealanders or visitors. Instead, I would support these areas of seabed being protected from all people and visitors, no matter their identity or ancestral lines.
I oppose the 12 proposed 'Highly Protected Areas’, which allow ‘customary rights’ to be exercised by tangata whenua, while banning all other New Zealanders or visitors. Instead, I would support these areas being made marine reserves, and thereby protected from all people and visitors, no matter their identity or ancestral lines.
My Reasons:

If the need to restore the Hauraki Gulf’s health is to be credible and the true purpose is to regenerate fish stocks and marine plants, then all of these areas should be no-take marine reserves. The restrictions on fishing, trawling and seafood harvesting must apply to all New Zealanders and visitors, no matter how they identify or who their ancestors might be.
While ‘customary rights’ are claimed as an entitlement by tangata whenua, it would be appropriate for them to lead by example for the benefit of future generations, instead of prohibiting takes by everyone but themselves.
The policing of these areas and the race-based entitlements within them pose all sorts of logistical and societal problems which will only foster more division, resentment and hostility in our country.
Finally, the growth in the numbers identifying as Maori is predicted to grow significantly. For this reason, partial race-based restrictions will not be sufficient to protect the health of the Hauraki Gulf.
Please make your submission by 11.59pm on Wednesday 1st November 2023. Click here to find the online form.
Many thanks,

Don

Don Brash
Trustee
Hobson’s Pledge

P.S. Thank you for your support in reaching out to Auckland councillors to voice your opposition to the establishment of Maori seats in time for the 2025 local body elections. These would have been another race-based layer in addition to the very powerful Independent Maori Statutory Board. Your significant contribution has played a crucial role in influencing Auckland Councillors’ decisions to vote against the inclusion of Maori seats.
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October 28, 2023 2:44pm
Maggie Pie

TRENDING

Cultural Enrichment. Women enjoying life under Sharia law.

https://twitter.com/pst412000t/status/1717266241046594031

Hard to say exactly where this vid was taken …. but possibly Mt Roskill?
17 1
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October 28, 2023 3:04pm
- Jethrod
  
  Gosh …… I bet it was only for burning dinner too.
  
  14 0
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  October 28, 2023 3:34pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Donald Trump delivered an ultimatum to Joe Biden that Democrats never thought was coming.
“I will soon be leaving for Crooked Joe Biden’s ‘Political Opponent Court’ in Lower Manhattan. I have a very partisan and angry Judge, a Corrupt Attorney General, and am not allowed a Jury Trial under the Statute they have chosen to use (for the very first time ever!).
Trump will win – short of assassination. Hillary is still lurking around.
Joe will stay until the last moment – because AFAIK a sitting President can not be indicted. (Check that) Four weeks before 2024 Election and Hillary walks in. That is the danger.
“Biden is facing allegations that he accepted a bribe to pressure the Ukrainian government to fire a prosecutor investigating Burisma for corruption.” It is on video, the whole World has seen it! “Son of a bitch, he got fired” are Joe’s words!

https://patriotpulse.net/donald-trump-delivered-an-ultimatum-to-joe-biden-that-democrats-never-thought-was-coming/?
8 1
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October 28, 2023 3:13pm
- BananaLlama
  
  Donald Trump is going to win the next presidential election and then there is going to be hell to pay.
  https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2024/president/us/general-election-trump-vs-biden-7383.html
  
  7 1
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  October 28, 2023 3:36pm
  - Ghost
    
    Biden won’t be standing, and Robert Kennedy will get some trump supporters shifting to him.
    
    6 0
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    October 28, 2023 4:05pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Joe bragging.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXjLqhtnIRI
  
  4 1
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  October 28, 2023 5:21pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

I walked past that tree the other day, on my way to work. There was a trench encircling it, had been for a week or so. The tree had plenty of spring foliage, looked healthy to me.

As I walked home that evening, there was an enclosed aborist’s truck & trailer slinking away from Museum St, and in place of the tree was a hole with some sawdust around.

For reasons that KB regulars will relate to, it immediately put me in mind of when Boxer is taken away from Animal Farm.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/501158/parliament-roundabout-oak-tree-dies-ahead-of-relocation
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October 28, 2023 3:17pm
Maggie Pie

@jamespshaw @maramadavidson (and the rest of the Green morons)

Bloomberg reports…
“A recent study has found that the actual cost of ‘fueling’ an EV over a 10 year period
is eqivalent to $17.33 per gallon of gasoline”

– Texas Public Policy Foundation. 27/10/2023
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October 28, 2023 3:40pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/canterbury/133196718/crash-involving-bikes-blocks-northbound-lane-on-sh1-near-glenavy
Look at the heading.
Now read the article.
No wonder many of us have absolutely no trust in the MSM.
What an outright piece of bullshit.
16 0
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October 28, 2023 3:49pm
- Keith White
  
  “Some vehicles with two wheels did something.”
  
  10 0
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  October 28, 2023 5:08pm
- Ghost
  
  If it is the vehicle I expect it is then the trailer carries a lot of bikes for scenic bike rides.
  
  8 0
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  October 28, 2023 5:17pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    I/we have made many trailers for bike transportation. Say 30 bikes at a time.
    My first thought is the trailer was not connected properly. It is the driver’s responsibility. Many put the trailer coupling on the towball but do not engage it by lifting a handle and locking it on.
    I have done it myself after 50 years around this. One little bump and hey! Thank the safety chain was on.
    
    6 1
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    October 28, 2023 5:32pm
    - kevn
      
      SteveO… I left the jockey wheel down once. Luckily it was only in brief contact with road as it caught the odd dip and rise. Wore the solid rubber tyre down a bit.
      
      6 0
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      October 28, 2023 5:52pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Common mistake. We carried spares for the Whareora brand, far better than any Chinese shit.
        Replace 2 or 3 a month. Strangely it was usually the same outfits. I told those bosses to start charging their workers for the damage and the time lost.
        All of a sudden it stopped.
        
        0 0
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        October 29, 2023 8:57am
    - Ghost
      
      We were going into town last week and there was a cattle truck parked on the bridge, trucks in front of it stoped as well. His trailer had broken off and was 50 metres down the road
      
      3 0
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      October 28, 2023 6:01pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Dunno what would disconnect it. Heavy trailers have brakes activated with a broken air hose (spring brakes)
        Big black marks and retreads ripped off = spring brakes. Air pressure takes the brakes off.
        
        0 0
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        October 29, 2023 9:01am
BananaLlama

Huge pro Palestine march down the middle of Queen Street going on right now don’t see anyone asking for the release of the Jewish hostages that were kidnapped though.
17 0
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October 28, 2023 3:54pm
- kowtow
  
  Civil wars must be over in Syria , Libya , Iraq and Yemen , where hundreds of thousands have been killed , starved etc .Women’s rights restored in Iran and Saudi Arabia .Turkish occupation of northern Cyprus over .
  Don’t recall any massive marches for them .
  What’s different this time?
  
  12 0
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  October 28, 2023 4:35pm
- Jack5
  
  Apparently pro-~~HAMAS~~ Palestine marches are being held in other cities.
  
  NZ’s State radio is providing a “liveblog” with news of the protests. State radio – Radio New Zealand – has got the bit between its red teeth on this issue.
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/501167/israel-gaza-conflict-all-the-latest-developments-on-28-october
  
  9 0
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  October 28, 2023 4:39pm
- kevn
  
  Banana… Some folk rushing up with Ukraine flags have found something new.
  
  10 0
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  October 28, 2023 5:26pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Oh, hijacked, just like the rent-a-mob in the Stop Co-Governance walk up Queen St.
    Were do these people work? Oh, Saturday, so we are off for a snack and coffee.
    They are working to serve you parasites!
    
    7 1
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    October 28, 2023 5:38pm
Maggie Pie

And talking of James Shaw….it’s NOVEMBER next week, and I’ve just been going around turning all the Radiators back up.

It’s 14 degrees & dropping. SHEESH!!
14 1
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October 28, 2023 4:27pm
- Ghost
  
  We’ve had cold summers the last few years, you get the odd hot day that allows them to claim hottest temps. But mainly summer has meant fires or heaters on. Not that long ago they promised us in a few weeks its would be hot and dry, snow on the hills behind us still.
  
  11 0
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  October 28, 2023 4:29pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    We still had 27hrs of our Genesis-Power-Shout available so I’ve just claimed it all from 6pm tonite.
    Should save a fortune 😀
    
    9 0
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    October 28, 2023 5:00pm
  - Taieri
    
    We’ve had cold summers the last few years
    ————
    
    The last summer was OK down here.
    
    6 0
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    October 28, 2023 5:43pm
Chuck Bird

Who thinks that the US should hit Iran hard and take out anything that could assist them in making a nuclear bomb?
6 5
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October 28, 2023 4:37pm
- Ghost
  
  Do you want china and Russia to join this war?
  
  1 8
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  October 28, 2023 5:01pm
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Have you heard of Neville Chamberland?
    
    5 3
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    October 28, 2023 5:26pm
    - Ghost
      
      Have you heard of the support china has given to Iran? Or that Russia has been sending captured American weapons to Iran? You seem to want a world war, and you just may get it. But it’s ok, you are old enough, you’ve lived your life.
      
      3 8
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      October 28, 2023 5:32pm
      - kevn
        
        Ghost… Plus the weapons abandoned by the USA in Afghanistan also the black marketed arms from Ukraine. Ammo supply seems the main problem.
        
        7 0
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        October 28, 2023 6:01pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        Russia cant even beat Ukraine so forget them in the middle east although Wagner Group might engage in some mischief against some US Bases.
        And China has absolutely no way to project power to the ME
        China is so exposed in its supply chains it could be isolated very easily
        Did you notice the two Carrier Strike Groups there now?
        The US could easily send another but I’m not sure they need to. That’s enough to really hurt anyone they want to.
        So no World War.
        
        And the chances of Iran being selectively bombed is high. And they will be unable to do anything in response.
        
        4 4
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        October 28, 2023 7:21pm
    - Chuck Bird
      
      Neville Chamberlain: The peace of our time
      
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KB4A7phjS_0
      
      5 4
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      October 28, 2023 5:38pm
- BananaLlama
  
  If i was Iran it would make me want to get Nuclear weapons even more as a deterrence. That ship has sailed anyway because of the Ukraine conflict, i imagine both China and Russia would love to get some pay back on America and would arm Iran to the teeth.
  
  7 2
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  October 28, 2023 5:01pm
- Ra Henare
  
  Yep, great way to start WW3!!!
  
  3 5
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  October 28, 2023 7:02pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    More ignorant nonsense.
    Russia and China aren’t going to go to war over a Terrorist group which the majority of the World and the Middle East despise.
    If anything the ME would like to see Hamas and Gaza gone.
    You’re so funny
    Hey, how is the Russia Russia thing going these days?
    
    3 3
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    October 28, 2023 8:01pm
Inandout

Why don’t our local media show this?

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

Hamas are after one thing only, the destruction of Israel.
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October 28, 2023 6:08pm
- Chuck Bird
  
  That is excellent. I will email this to possible Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
  
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  October 28, 2023 7:34pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  Brave man. He has a damn great target on his back.
  
  3 0
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  October 28, 2023 8:10pm
Jethrod

OK Steve Otto(North Shore),
All Black’s by how many????
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October 28, 2023 6:56pm
Sparrow

I found the voting on the call by the UN for a truce in Gaza interesting some strange bed fellows. Over 120 countries including New Zealand voted for a truce. Tonga and PNG were amongst 14 countries which voted against whilst 40 odd abstained including Australia and the UK. Why would Pacific countries vote against. Surely not because of the once mighty greenback. Is that too cynical after the recent visit to the area by high ranking American official after the Chinese visit
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October 28, 2023 6:59pm
- Jack5
  
  New Zealand has voted for a UN resolution seeking a truce in Gaza.
  
  The non-binding resolution calling for an “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce” between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.
  
  It demanded “continuous, sufficient and unhindered” provision of lifesaving supplies and services for civilians trapped inside the enclave.
  
  The vote: 120 in favour, 14 against and 45 abstained.
  
  New Zealand voted in favour. Australia, Canada, and the UK abstained. Germany, Italy, South Korea, Japan, India, the Netherlands and Ukraine were among other abstainers.
  
  Among those who stood with the United States and Israel and voted against the resolution were Fiji, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Hungary, Austria, Czechia, and Croatia.
  
  This list of how countries voted is from Al Jazeera:
  
  https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/27/unga-calls-for-humanitarian-truce-in-israel-hamas-war-how-countries-voted
  
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  October 28, 2023 9:00pm
Eugene

If you wondered how Wellington could possibly have elected two Green electorate MPs, a Green Mayor and re-elected an invisible Labour MP you only had to see that enormous and rabid pro Hamas mob downtown today – explains everything.
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October 28, 2023 7:55pm
Jack5

A pointer for NZ?

Canada is to tighten verification of university acceptance letters as it seeks to prevent immigration through fraudsters who target international students.

Like New Zealand, Canada is a popular destination for international students as it is relatively easy to obtain a work permit.

However, Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, says the country’s the student immigration system is rife with fraud and “perverse incentives.”

https://www.reuters.com/world/canada-ramp-up-verification-student-admissions-curb-immigration-fraud-2023-10-27/
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October 28, 2023 9:38pm

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