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July 12, 2024 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 12 July 2024

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General Debate

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slightlyrighty

There is a huge amount of Backlash coming from Biden Supporters over the Clooney Op-Ed.

Most unlike the Left to split into fraticidal groups…
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July 12, 2024 8:04am
- All_on_Red
  
  Clooney wouldn’t have done that without Obama’s approval
  Its VERY noticeable that no one is talking Kamala Harris up. And good luck trying to pass her by for someone else.
  This guy says it better than I could;
  https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2024/07/dems-facing-the-abyss-inside-the-abyss.php
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:43am
  - slightlyrighty
    
    That paraphrased Woody Allen quote is gold.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:13am
  - Grunter
    
    AoR – even you’d laugh at Biden’s latest gaff just moments ago… introducing Zelensky
    
    “And ladies & gentlemen, please welcome the President of Ukraine. Please welcome President Putin”
    
    Yep – he just said that…!!
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:33am
    - Ghost
      
      No, moments ago he stated Trump was his vice president
      
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      July 12, 2024 11:48am
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        Yes, seen that, he also told the people at the conference welcome to the podium to Vladimir Putin when he was brining Seleynzy to the podium
        
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        July 12, 2024 12:27pm
  - Tom Hunter
    
    July 2021 – The unbearable lightness of Kamala Harris
    
    Still, she at least has a functioning brain so her word salads don’t have glitches and total drop-outs.
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:38am
    - Raphael
      
      There is no evidence of Kamala Harris having a functioning brain. All she has is a vague laugh and a single catchphrase (“What Can Be, Unburdened By What Has Been”).
      
      She was VP to keep anyone from trying to roll Biden with the 25th Amendment (as no-one wants Harris as president)
      
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      July 12, 2024 1:15pm
- Grunter
  
  Looks to me like the Dem’s are going to make a real mess of replacing Biden. Harris will be a disaster. The only other possibility I see is crooked Hilary – and if she beats Trump then God help the US and the rest of us!
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:35am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    You can bet your bottom dollar that Hillary is having some very serious chats with Obama.
    She wants another go, she never got over 2016.
    Lots of holes in the walls from empty vodka bottles if she loses to Trump again!
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:47am
Chuck Bird

Luxon says that Biden is sharp. He is not meant to get involved in US politics.
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July 12, 2024 8:06am
- pdm
  
  Three reasons Chuck:
  1. Inexperience.
  2. Naivety.
  3. Wants to please everyone.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:12am
  - Colville
    
    It’s obvious that Luxon couldn’t say anything else without bringing down a shit storm of media.
    Any other comment would have been political interference.
    
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    July 12, 2024 8:17am
    - Chuck Bird
      
      Has any other leaders said anything similar to Luxon? He should have said no comment.
      
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      July 12, 2024 8:38am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        It is really not important.
        
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        July 12, 2024 8:43am
      - Debsta
        
        Or he could have just said ‘I enjoyed my time with him’ and left it at that. Sharp is a flat out lie. Luxon needs to learn faster. I really want to catch him being good ALL the time, not just some of the time.
        
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        July 12, 2024 8:52am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        “He should have said no comment.”
        
        He had a fraction of a second to decide what to say. Honestly, it does not matter. Let it go. 😅
        
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        July 12, 2024 8:56am
      - cmm
        
        BY: “He had a fraction of a second”
        
        Nonsense. Anyone with half a brain should have anticipated he would be asked this question. He had the whole flight to USA to think of a suitable answer.
        
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        July 12, 2024 9:13am
      - Ghost
        
        Joe Biden is not senile and has been on “good form” at the Nato summit, Keir Starmer has said, as concerns grow about the US president’s mental fitness.
        
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        July 12, 2024 9:46am
      - Cassandra
        
        Starmer has commented along the same lines as Luxon. Luxon is a guest. He doesn’t need to come out as a Trump supporter at this stage.
        
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        July 12, 2024 10:08am
      - Damocles11
        
        Starmer is a left wing politician though. Maybe Luxon is too(?)
        
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        July 12, 2024 10:42am
      - Mod88
        
        Yes, Kier Starmer has also said Ol’ Joe is as sharps as a tack.
        
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        July 12, 2024 10:44am
      - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
        
        Chuck Bird – Everybody knows Luxon is not the sharpest tool in the shed…Movin on…
        
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        July 12, 2024 11:30am
      - Beach Haven expat
        
        Starter. Do both of them have shown themselves to be happy to spout nonsense.
        
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        July 13, 2024 9:37am
    - Chuck Bird
      
      Biden just stuffed up again introducing the President of Ukrane as President Putin. This was on the 10 am news. Is that sharp?
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:05am
      - krazykiwi
        
        Putin lives rent-free in Biden’s head.
        
        It is less of a home, you understand, more like empty warehouse.
        
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        July 12, 2024 10:12am
    - krazykiwi
      
      “Luxon couldn’t say anything else”
      
      Disagree. Politicians, even relatively unseasoned ones like Luxon are experts at defecting questions they don’t want to answer. What he could have said is something like this: “Look, I enjoyed meeting Mr Biden. We had wide ranging conversation and I thanked him and his team for making this time available.”
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:09am
      - Sir Cullen's Sidekick
        
        krazykiwi – Proves my point that Luxon is a waste of time.
        
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        July 12, 2024 11:31am
      - Tom Hunter
        
        Luxon may also be well aware of our generally Lefty bent, especially when it comes to American politics (I’m being generous in assuming it’s not just culturally woven into his psyche, but YMMV). I recall Jacinda receiving orgasmic praise when she made a snarky implication about Trump.
        
        The reverse of a “right-wing” NZ pollie snarking about a US Democrat would bring forth a tsunami of attacks here.
        
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        July 12, 2024 11:41am
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    Yup, he’s behaving like a fan boi, not a prime minister. Not cool.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:12am
    - Ghost
      
      No he’s behaving like a diplomat. It doesn’t matter how he answered that question from the media, someone would whinge about the answer
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:33am
      - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
        
        Not talking about that comment, it’s about the inane grinning like a trainspotter who has got lucky. Needs more gravitas.
        
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        July 12, 2024 2:24pm
      - Ghost
        
        What a stupid comment. Now people bitch cause luxon is smiling when meeting someone, this is truly getting retarded.
        
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        July 12, 2024 2:26pm
- slightlyrighty
  
  What else could he say? He couldn’t trash talk. He has to respect the office.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:44am
- All_on_Red
  
  Do you have a link for that Chuck?
  Seems an incredible thing to say.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:44am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Not premium
    
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says United States President Joe Biden is mentally sharp and was “on top of his brief” during a meeting between the pair as Luxon nears the end of his time in the US.
    
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/horrific-pm-christopher-luxon-to-ukraines-president-volodymyr-zelenskyy-at-nato-indo-pacific-meeting/NQYOKVFBLFGVLH3GJMM6ZLY26Q/
    
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    July 12, 2024 8:49am
  - MCōs
    
    Mr Luxon was asked by an RNZ reporter, or someone, if he thought President Biden was sharp and he didn’t deny it, which is what you’d expect him to say
    On the other hand Jo Moir more or less said President Biden looked pitiful, not to put too fine a point on her words
    
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    July 12, 2024 8:54am
    - Paulus
      
      Who is Jo Moir is he a Democrat or a Republican ?
      
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      July 12, 2024 2:12pm
      - MCōs
        
        An RNZ political editor who’s over in Washington covering Mr Luxon’s NATO trip
        
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        July 12, 2024 4:23pm
    - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
      
      Look how Cindy’s comment about Trump played out. In this instance, luxon did precisely the right thing.
      
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      July 12, 2024 2:25pm
- Taieri
  
  Luxon says that Biden is sharp.
  ———-
  
  In all fairness, is it up to Luxon to publicly realistically assess the compos mentis of American president? Of course he’ll suck up and say that Biden is “sharp”, although it would be smarter if he avoided any comments on that.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:46am
  - JackRabbit
    
    Luxon also thinks Larry Fink of Blackrock is a nice guy, having met with him in the last day or so.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:50am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Thanks to Hipkins Luxon is tied to black rock
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:31pm
      - JackRabbit
        
        Indonesian Blackrock, to be correct. Literally and figuratively.
        
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        July 12, 2024 3:15pm
  - Ghost
    
    Biden could be sharp when he met with him. I’d expect he’s well medicated for one on one’s.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:12am
  - waikatosinger
    
    Maybe just a clever way of calling the guy a prick.
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:07pm
- john1234
  
  LOL!
  Of course Luxon said that. To say anything else would be getting *into* politics.
  Luxon will be guided by the diplomats on exactly what to say so as to avoid creating international headlines.
  Can you just imagine it if Luxon came out and said that Biden was a hollow-eyed vegetable?
  Sheesh.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:57am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    What I seen he never said he was sharp at all, he said he seemed fine when he spoke to him, and sometimes he is fine
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:32pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Sharp? Luxon is not really sharp. Rich sure. Held top positions sure. But I don’t think he is that sharp, so how could he say Joe is sharp?
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:51am
  - Positan
    
    Luxon has constantly demonstrated the LOWEST degree of political acumen I’ve seen in all NZ leaders
    other than Ardern.
    Almost as bad is his lack of gravitas – his televised gushing approach to meeting with other leaders contrasted deeply with their far more reserved and dignified demeanours. In contrast Luxon came across as a kid let loose in a candy store.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:51am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Oh ffs, they called on Luxon to chair one of those meetings this week, he can’t be that stupid
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:33pm
- Damocles11
  
  Luxon is a prime example of both the Dunning-Kruger effect, and The Peter Principle. His naivety and lack of ‘political instinct’s’ have been on display time and again, as have his nauseating efforts to curry favour with the MSM and other dubious entities. The National party stalwarts who post here have to spend much of their time running cover for him and glossing over his failings.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:04am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Don’t you worry about which party people support, what is with you bitter Act voters ffs
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:34pm
- I remember when
  
  Chuck Bird:
  Perhaps he meant he has bony elbows.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:26am
  - rouppe
    
    Or a nice suit 😀
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:01pm
- Damocles11
  
  Interesting comments made on the Daily Mail story on Bidens latest gaffe of calling Zelensky Putin –
  
  ——
  
  Skelmorlie, United Kingdom
  38m ago
  Wait – Starmer says Joe is on fine form – sums up Labour.
  
  Reply
  Hemel, United Kingdom
  25m ago
  Considering Keir can’t even define what a woman is, it’s not.
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:09am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    He started waffling about VP Harris and said when I named my VP president vice president Trump, hahahahahaha, you can’t make it up
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:37pm
    - Damocles11
      
      Sounds pretty sharp alright.
      
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      July 12, 2024 1:24pm
  - Paulus
    
    Of course now in the UK by decree Keir is not to be known as a Knight of the Realm, as un Socialist, so never to be repeated again as Sir Keir Starmer or his Wife as Lady Starmer.
    
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    July 12, 2024 2:16pm
- Hugh Jarse
  
  Luxon is just being diplomatic with our biggest ally in the Pacific and third biggest export market.
  
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  July 12, 2024 12:22pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  That’s not what I heard him say, he said he won’t get into US politics as he shouldn’t, but I can’t remember him saying he was sharp, he said something like he was fine when he spoke with him or something to that effect, not that he was mentally sharp
  
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  July 12, 2024 12:30pm
Cassandra

From Washington DC: Luxon said New Zealand had new military leadership, and he had asked them to prepare a ground up defence capability review that was a proper long-term strategy for the next 10-15 years. “Then when we put money behind it, we know it’s actually going to be interoperable with what’s happening in Australia, it’s going to be a force multiplier with our allies.” Precisely. Exactly what NZ should do, with a 2% budget. I was a Defence planner – we’ve always fiddled around the edges – no air defence, no long range artillery, no offensive capability, always “fitted for” not “fitted with” and so on. Let’s hope this is a new era. It’s very promising when the PM is enthusiastic, the first time ever! I’ve known every PM since Walter Nash – at school with Lange, Holyoake’s ADC etc. I campaigned,for Tom Skinner when young, idealistic and committed to saving the world from apartheid (my work in NZ continues). Luxon is the first to speak like this.
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July 12, 2024 8:06am
- kowtow
  
  Judging by how our te media constantly run the exploits of 28 Battalion ,that’s all we need to do,have a Maori Battalion to win every battle ,campaign and war that was ever fought .From Alexander through to Napoleon and to now , the boys of 28 Battalion are the ones for the job ……..according to te media anyway.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:44am
- newview
  
  Luxon gets plenty of criticism on kiwiblog but seems to me he’s doing a pretty good job. His CEO qualities are making him effective overseas where he appears to be respected. At home he has worked out that by taking the middle ground he will retain a bigger share of the voting publics support. Can’t blame him for that. The media and others are looking to where they can take shots at him but will have to admit that his performance overseas to date has been good.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:56am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    “The media and others are looking to where they can take shots at him but will have to admit that his performance overseas to date has been good.”
    
    Except for funding a terrorist group like Marxist Albo.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:33am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Yes, he was invited to chair a meeting at that conference, then today’s poll has him surging in popularity, up to 34.5% as Hipkins dived to mid teens. I have said it before, under no he must straddle the centre of fall, Act is for the harder right voter, but that’s what MMP has created, there is no point Alienating the centre, note the media are trying to push that
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:42pm
- Simon
  
  China is NZs biggest export customer. Who are NZ preparing war for?
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:36am
  - kowtow
    
    One ,if not the biggest ,trade policy mistake this country ( both main parties) has ever made.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:42am
    - Dudley Quaffquaff
      
      What exactly are you blaming politicians for here? Do you think Governments should actively intervene to prevent NZ companies from exporting to or importing from China?
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:21pm
      - kowtow
        
        ‘Free’ trade deal, opened the door to huge increase in trade with them ,and much more besides.
        
        Both parties were firmly behind and pushed velly hard for it.
        
        The rest is history.
        
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        July 12, 2024 1:23pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Don’t talk crap, there is no other large customer, we are soaking up Indian trade as China is weak, but look at pricing when China is weak, how utterly pathetic to suggest a country that buys half our agri is d sad one how bad. Grrrrrr
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:45pm
      - Paulus
        
        India, I understand, will not do a Free Trade Agreement with New Zealand, as we currently do not take enough Indian Immigrants, and that has been the case for some time despite the large influx in recent years.
        
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        July 12, 2024 2:21pm
  - gravedodger
    
    NZ will never “need” to go to war with any other nation.
    However NZ does need to have a credible defence because so long as there are nutters like Putin experiencing delusions of times past we need to at least hold a line until assistance arrives.
    Not so long ago defence chiefs told a Prime Minister he could not entertain any notions of interfering in Fiji, he would get a bloody nose.
    NZ needs to have a standing defense to portray an ability to defend our sovereignty, currently we are struggling to protect our economic zone at sea.
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:47am
    - rouppe
      
      Not least because our “seek and destroy” Orions can only to “search and locate”.
      
      A small missile into the engine room of an illegal fisher that doesn’t obey instructions to rendezvous with a patrol boat would perk up some thieves and be good practice for bigger missiles that might be needed for military targets.
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:05pm
  - Grunter
    
    Exactly Simon.
    
    He’s what George Washington & Thomas Jefferson had to say back in their day. Pity none of this has survived into 2024….
    
    George Washington’s Farewell Address, in which he stated, “The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible…It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”
    
    Thomas Jefferson’s First Inaugural Address, in which he emphasized that the policy of the United States should be “peace, friendship, and honest commerce with all nations, entangling alliances with none.”
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:53am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Oh so now he is preparing war? WTF, Biden will create WWlll if he remains, nothing Luxon or anyone else can do about that
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:43pm
    - mawm
      
      Luxon should be standing up to them, just as Orban is standing up to NATO and the EU. It’s about standing for what is right.
      
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      July 12, 2024 2:13pm
  - mawm
    
    Simon – NZ is being press-ganged by the US into the war that the US wants with Russia. It’s not our overwhelming firepower that they want, it’s just the ‘either you’re with us or against us’ mentality they have to justify their wars of destruction. I can’t see Luxon having the cajoles to stand up for what is right.
    
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    July 12, 2024 2:09pm
- krazykiwi
  
  “New Zealand had new military leadership”
  
  Well it’s not working. I have a close friend working at NZ Navy. The word is we lack the logistical competence to prepare catering, let alone mission resources for more than a day or two at sea.
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:50am
  - Cassandra
    
    Early days. Things are going to improve under this government.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:12am
  - lifesgood
    
    “close friend working at NZ Navy” Has it ever occured to you that he is just a disgruntled employee. The son of a friend is an Air New Zealand pilot, sits on a great big fat wallet, seems to have pretty good breaks between flights and does nothing but moan about the company.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:13am
    - krazykiwi
      
      Not an employee.
      
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      July 12, 2024 11:11am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Give it a chance, they only just hired new heads did they not. Shit doesn’t happen overnight
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:47pm
  - cmm
    
    Let’s be real.
    
    NZ does not have a Navy. It has a small coastguard.
    
    Frankly I think NZ should steer away from expeditionary capability and focus on local defence only.
    
    3 1
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    July 12, 2024 2:40pm
- Paulus
  
  We really should be like Canada who have just appointed a Lady as Chief of Defence Force.
  Our turn next.
  
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  July 12, 2024 2:17pm
Matt Long

In a romantic convergence of ideologies, Hillary Clinton’s islamic adviser and close friend, Huma Abedin, marries Leftist enabler and heir to the Soros fortune.
An honest politician is one that stays bought.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/ex-clinton-aide-huma-abedin-engaged-george-soros-son
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July 12, 2024 8:11am
- Maggie Pie
  
  Sounds like a marriage of convenience to me!
  Huma is 48, Alex 38
  And Alex is ghey
  
  Just saying.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:20am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Gold digger?
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:09am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    Hey Maggie, what do the girls at tennis think of Lulu?
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:03am
    - Maggie Pie
      
      One of the girls has a holiday home down Te Anau way and knows her family. I think she said her grandparents were Chinese market gardeners.
      Must admit I’d never even heard of her until last week.
      Fab player but no Sharapova looks wise 😎
      
      Just saying
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:14pm
      - Chuck Bird
        
        I hope she visits NZ tennis clubs.
        
        7 1
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        July 12, 2024 12:23pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        She is half Chinese and half Croatian, born and breed in Te Anau, the filthy media tried early in the week to tie them to an Iwi, but there is no Māori in her at all
        
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        July 12, 2024 12:50pm
      - MCōs
        
        Her Chinese grandmother only arrived in NZ about 25yrs ago
        
        Which filthy media are you referring to, G
        
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        July 12, 2024 4:28pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Not goanna get much product outa that filly
    
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    July 12, 2024 7:55pm
softail 1450

Chuck , Are you taking the piss , surely you’re joking there’s no way anyone with a pulse can seriously say that now ???
If Luxon did say that I’ll be sending an email to his office telling him what a f- – -King moron we’ve got running our country.
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July 12, 2024 8:14am
- Benedict Yu
  
  What do you expect him to say? “Yes as it happens I agree with the neurologist I was watching on YouTube. The President definitely had Parkinsons.”
  
  Come on. He can’t say anything else.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:42am
  - Colville
    
    Saying anything else would have the Democrats hating on New Zealand for years. His comment was the perfect “make up your own mind” especially for our lefty media that is travelling with him.
    If Tova wants to put out a hit piece on Biden then it definitely should not lead with a quote from our Prime Minister.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:08am
    - Tom Hunter
      
      True, although using the word “sharp” marks him as less diplomatic than foolish, considering that not even Democrats are willing to gaslight that much any more.
      
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      July 12, 2024 11:46am
      - Ghost
        
        Democrats can say what they like, visiting leaders, not really.
        
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        July 12, 2024 11:53am
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        Pretty sure he never said sharp at all, what I heard him say was he was fine when I spoke to him and I won’t get into US politics, absolutely nothing wrong with that, what else should he say ffs
        
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        July 12, 2024 12:53pm
    - Tom Hunter
      
      By contrast, Biden didn’t exactly get NATO firing on all cylinders when he said that Giorgia Meloni’s election to PM in Italy represented a “threat” to democracy.
      
      No wonder she was pulling faces at his endless delays getting to the press conference today.
      
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      July 12, 2024 8:26pm
  - cmm
    
    No, he should just say: “I’m leaving American politics to the Americans.”
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:18am
    - Simon
      
      Biden wouldn’t even know his vegetative state is a political issue.
      
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      July 12, 2024 9:38am
      - Cassandra
        
        He is not that bad. Moderately impaired at this stage. He should retire but he’s not senile.
        
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        July 12, 2024 10:15am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      He did after saying he was fine when he spoke with me
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:54pm
  - softail 1450
    
    Benedict YU , he could have said without straight faced lying what cmm stated, this is the problem with most politicians they lie in a millisecond instead of thinking for 3 seconds and saying the right thing diplomatically, Luxon probably should have replied in Ti Reo then nobody would’ve known he was lying,everyone on this blog knows he was bullshitting.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:35am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      Saying “no comment” is not tenable. Honestly let it go.
      
      Sometimes lying is justified. If you were invited to dinner by a friend and the dinner was really not good, would you say “no comment” if asked?
      
      This is one of those occasions where Luxon had only one option in his answer.
      
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      July 12, 2024 9:56am
      - cmm
        
        Of course a “no comment” answer is fine, especially when worded properly like “I don’t make comments on USA’s internal politics”.
        
        NZ politicians have absolutely no place making comments on USA politicians. He can’t be pro-Biden or pro-Trump as he likely needs to work effectively with both.
        
        And yes, this is an issue because politicans need to understand their boundaries.
        
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        July 12, 2024 10:57am
      - Colville
        
        No comment is what you say when you have something to hide.
        It would have lead to a “Luxon refused to confirm that Biden wasn’t impaired “
        
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        July 12, 2024 12:17pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Oh ffs, I heard what he said, he never said sharp at all
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:55pm
- Rocky Jnr
  
  Its called being diplomatic,
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:47am
CJames

Wasn’t Thames Water one of the models for the Labour 3-5-7 Waters campaign? It looks like it will be one of the first collapses under the Starmer government.
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July 12, 2024 8:16am
- fightingtemeraire
  
  Yes
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:38am
- Blog-aholic
  
  No, I believe it was the Scottish model, but that too has been an unmitigated failure. The cherry on top of those failures is that they did not have any f-ing co-governance bullshit.
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:02am
  - kowtow
    
    We copied the MacSporrans with NCEA too.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:43am
- PeeJay
  
  Fair point on the 3-5-7 waters point but it almost read like you were trying to pin the imminent collapse of Thames Water on Starmer who has been in the job since 5th July?
  
  If so, that’s more than a tad unreasonable considering Thames Water has been in the shit for a long time now – at least since Macquarie bought it around 2006 and basically used it for debt raising while increasing dividends etc before finding some mugs to buy it in 2017 – Canadian pension funds I think.
  
  Starmer / Labour may well struggle in the next five years but the collapse of Thames Water has been a long time coming and has little, if anything, to do with the new UK Government.
  
  Some things work well under privatisation, others not so well. Generally, the key seems to be competition. Where there is competition, like in telecoms etc, it can work well (at least compared to the old state monopoly). If there is no competition, like a water provider in the UK, then it’s not really a surprise that they fail so utterly.
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:33am
Maggie Pie

The woke madness continues 🙁

Sources familiar with the matter are saying HealthNZ Te-Whata-Ora, in a recent email to staff, are asking employees to begin each day with a karakia!

I see it has been the norm at Rotorua Hospital for nearly a year now…..

https://www.facebook.com/HealthNZLakes/videos/rotorua-hospital-karakia/840003140847829/
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July 12, 2024 8:35am
- peterwn
  
  What between this nonsense and the Health and Disabilities Commissioner antics there will be an even greater shortage of doctors in due course.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:43am
- Benedict Yu
  
  It is just wrong. These are generally defined as prayers and incantation to seek spiritual guidance.
  
  https://www.otago.ac.nz/maori/world/te-reo-maori/karakia-prayers
  
  If you are an atheist, you are being forced to participate in nonsense.
  
  If you are religious, you are being forced to pray to a pagan God.
  
  I have seen these in action. The participants are divided into two camps. The converted enthusiasts and the suffering cringing.
  
  This could all be fixed by a simple amendment to the Public Service Act requiring that the public service be secular. It really is that simple.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:53am
  - Maggie Pie
    
    People with knowledge of the situation are saying that Adrian leads a Karakia & Waiata at the RB every morning.
    OK, that’s fine, but it should be followed by Christian prayers as well.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:05am
    - Colville
      
      Yeah that will help. Just add another skyfairy to the list.
      
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      July 12, 2024 9:13am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      Um no. It most certainly should not. The public service should not be forcing people to pray. To Maori, Christian or any other gods. It is absurd. People can go pray on their own time.
      
      And make no mistake. People are effectively forced to participate in this stuff.
      
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      July 12, 2024 9:18am
      - Ra Henare
        
        Isnt there something in the bill of rights about freedom of religion.
        So staff do NOT have to participate in any sort of prayers.
        
        13. Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion
        Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion, and belief, including the right to adopt and to hold opinions without interference.
        15Manifestation of religion and belief
        Every person has the right to manifest that person’s religion or belief in worship, observance, practice, or teaching, either individually or in community with others, and either in public or in private.
        
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        July 12, 2024 12:26pm
    - Michael Johnston
      
      Also, recitation of Buddhist sutras, and a human sacrifice ritual for any Aztecs in the room.
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:41am
      - Colville
        
        One of those stone sacrifice tables would take a fair bit of building strengthening to accommodate.
        
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        July 12, 2024 12:18pm
    - cmm
      
      I would rather they prayed to the gods of spreadsheets and were fact driven rather than any mumbo-jumbo.
      
      If you want to pray – fine – do it at home or at church or whetever on your own time. Not in the workplace, especially the taxpayer funded workplace.
      
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      July 12, 2024 11:00am
  - Scott
    
    Benedict – sometimes the karakia is Christian, just in the Maori language.
    I’m a Christian but I don’t think you should have to start the day with a prayer. Also many of the prayers will be pagan, as you rightly point out.
    
    So once more pandering to the cultural practices of what was, let’s be honest, a very basic tribal culture.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:05am
    - john1234
      
      We are a secular state, end of story. There should be no prayers of any sort. What next, Sharia? Oh right, we already have “Tikanga” forced on us by unelected activists in the Supreme Court.
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:42am
      - Scott
        
        No I don’t agree with a blanket enforcement of secularism. That’s a bridge too far and will swing things too far. Tradition and precedent and that NZ when it was founded was a Christian country needs to be taken into account.
        
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        July 12, 2024 11:34am
  - kowtow
    
    Why more legislation .
    
    A return to our former state of proudly secular, equality , openness , common sense and rationality would be simpler .
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:08am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      You misunderstand me. The last government introduced a new Public Service Act. It is that Act that requires the public service to promote Te ao Maori. I am simply saying that those sections of the Act should be repealed.
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:01am
      - kowtow
        
        Thanks , that’s informative.
        
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        July 12, 2024 12:05pm
  - cmm
    
    “This could all be fixed by a simple amendment to the Public Service Act requiring that the public service be secular. ”
    
    That would not be enough.
    
    It would be claimed that this is “culture” and not religion, therefore the colonial concept of secularism does not apply.
    
    The same should really be said for all forms of activism including Pride Month, etc etc.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:21am
    - Damocles11
      
      So let’s not even try in other words. So we have two options when we vote: wokeism and the Left, or wokeism and the Left. Cool.
      
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      July 12, 2024 11:26am
  - Paulus
    
    Do you think that the current Public Servants would take any notice of such as making it secular – they say they are already, so sod off !
    
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    July 12, 2024 2:26pm
  - John Loveridge
    
    Benedict, what would be the outcome if a staff member refused to participate on religious grounds?
    
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    July 12, 2024 8:03pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  What is the point of a karakia?
  
  The word karakia, which we use for prayer, formerly meant a spell, charm, or incantation […] [Maori] have spells suited for all circumstances – to conquer enemies, catch fish, trap rats, and snare birds, to make their kumara grow, and even to bind the obstinate will of woman; to find anything lost; to discover a stray dog; a concealed enemy; in fact, for all their wants. ,
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karakia#:~:text=Karakia%20are%20M%C4%81ori%20incantations%20and,as%20at%20a%20court%20hearing.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:55am
  - cmm
    
    Sounds exactly like Catholics praying to ask for the intervention of various saints or the Romans and Greeks praying to various gods assigned to various purposes.
    
    If the NZDF was praying to Odin every morning as a fundamental strategy I would be worried.
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:25am
    - gravedodger
      
      At a Presbyterian school over half a century ago I used to wonder at St Bedes 1st 15 having a prayer before going to battle when I was told their god was the same as the One I supposedly sought comfort from.
      Didn’t consider a loving god would take sides in such an important matter
      
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      July 12, 2024 11:56am
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Catholic version. Far superior.
        
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        July 12, 2024 7:58pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    The point is just Maori propaganda – being forced whether you want it or not.
    160 cultures in NZ. I don’t see any prayers from other cultures. Why not?
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:34am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      The answer is simple. The public service act requires public servants to promote Te ao Maori. The Act says nothing about other cultures. The government could simply repeal those clauses in the Act. Then introduce a replacement clause.
      
      “The Public Service will be secular in all its conduct, analysis and advice. For the avoidance of doubt, this means that the public service shall not promote religious, spiritual, or cultural beliefs.”
      
      Problem solved.
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:54am
      - cmm
        
        Here we are 9 months into the new government and no changes.
        
        The National/Act shadow ministers knew of this years ago and should have had a new policy ready to go on day one.
        
        Sorting out the public service is a critical issue. Some things can be sorted out in minutes, other issues might take a while longer.
        
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        July 12, 2024 11:07am
      - Tauhei Notts
        
        Benedict, your second paragraph is brilliant. An uptick is inadequate appreciation for your wise advice.
        
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        July 12, 2024 11:22am
- Blog-aholic
  
  I’d be late every day…..oopsie
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:04am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    People try that. Seriously. But they are found out and shamed. I wish I was joking. ☹️
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:04am
    - lifesgood
      
      I don’t know if it still happens but back in the day Jewish students were permitted to walk out of assemblies at Auckland Grammar during Christian prayer times.
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:18am
    - Blog-aholic
      
      I would never allow anyone to bully shame me and niether should anyone else. Shaming is a form of bullying and that is not acceptable.
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:58am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        That’s easy to say until your career is on the line.
        
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        July 12, 2024 1:51pm
      - wsk12345
        
        @Bene. It’s very easy if you dont have substantial debt. I was given the boot by all my clients during the covid mandates (all remote work) because I would not be bullied by them. And yes – it has destroyed my career but I do not regret it.
        
        I would do the same in this case. Problem is, they got rid of most of the people like me with the mandates so I doubt there are many there now that don’t just shut up and do as they are told. 🙁
        
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        July 12, 2024 2:28pm
- Yvette
  
  All this would be dismissible if Government re-stated that it is secular and all its departments and services are secular. In this case it would probably eliminate the karakia and much of the singing and in the Rotorua video which Maggie links to, also the music set to a Christian hymn that is something like –
  
  When thru the woods 
  And forest glades I wander 
  And hear the birds 
  Sing sweetly in the trees, 
  When I look down 
  From lofty mountain grandeur 
  And hear the brook 
  And feel the gentle breeze,
  
  Then sings my soul, 
  My Savior God, to Thee …
  
  – and there too it then goes off the rail, secularity-wise.
  
  But if what the singing and pagan chanting achieve in terms of staff morale and patient wellbeing uplift, could still be delivered in some similar, or other voluntary form, with some ingenuity – just not overtly religion based
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:12am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    “But if what the singing and pagan chanting achieve in terms of staff morale and patient wellbeing uplift…”
    
    Like in toyota car factories at the start of shift? 😂
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:05am
    - Yvette
      
      From –
      Levelling the playing field for Indigenous people and ethnic minorities
      Presenting the same healthcare to everyone does not equally meet the needs of all people
      by Dr Simone Watkins
      
      Cultural processes could potentially enhance wellbeing, healthcare engagement, and overall health; community-led healthcare services, incorporating cultural values such as karakia (prayer) and spiritual needs into care plans, for instance. As a doctor and mother of mixed ethnic heritage, I know this – connecting to culture improves wellbeing. I returned recently from a family reunion in Samoa with an enhanced understanding of who I am and where I come from, which grounds me and enhances my general feeling of health.
      https://newsroom.co.nz/2024/07/10/levelling-the-playing-field-for-indigenous-people-and-ethnic-minorities/
      
      May it be noted that “grounds me and enhances my general feeling of health” appears to have occurred in Samoa, so in the cultural background of Dr Simone Watkins, not in the hospital system.
      
      But, Benedict, if a morning event “Like in toyota car factories at the start of shift” achieve mental wellbeing, and is non-religious and is up-lifting, WHY NOT?
      
      This land is your land, this land is my land
      From Coromandel to the Chatham Islands
      From the kauri forests to the Southern waters
      This land was made for you and me.
      
      Based on Guthrie’s leaving his family, Okies, in the Dust Bowl, this song become an anthem, perhaps tainted by being rendered at Obama’s inauguration, and is also disliked as in being inaccurate is that “This land is your land, this land is my land”, comprises America’s First Nation’s land.
      That’s why knot.
      Whatever may be done, someone will get their knickers in a knot
      Perhaps hospitals should forget the formality and just get on with caring for patients.
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:27am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        Public service chant each morning.
        
        “I pledge to apply science, reasoning and free thinking to all my work today. I will not allow mysticism, religion or racism to cloud my judgement.”
        
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        July 12, 2024 1:55pm
      - Paulus
        
        My wife has been in three Hospitals for the last 9 weeks, and still, but we can confirm nothing but the finest treatment from all of the staff – none appear to be Maori, but every other Pacific type nations, but all the Hospital signs are in that language.
        
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        July 12, 2024 2:31pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    e.g. A little morning exercise routine with fellow workers
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMwjdtRXCXk
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:15am
- Ghost
  
  I’m sure political parties are the same. For example, I imagine each morning the greens hold a prayer session. Dear sky fairy please don’t let any of us get caught today.
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:41am
  - Swifty
    
    Hahahahahahah!
    
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    July 12, 2024 9:47am
  - cmm
    
    The 11th commandment: Though shalt not get caught.
    
    You can break the other 10, so long as you don’t break the 11th.
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:10am
- Simon
  
  In 10 yrs time you won’t be able to open your fridge without saying a karakia.
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:41am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Or burp and fart.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:46am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Burping and farting is a Karikia
      
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      July 12, 2024 1:00pm
  - Damocles11
    
    Keep voting National for more of the same. 👍
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:27am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    You might not be able to
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:59pm
- Damocles11
  
  A good thing we elected a National led government to put a stop to all this aye. ffs.
  Luxon, Goldsmith, and Potaka engage in a bit of window dressing while capitulating to ongoing Maorification, Winston blusters while NZ First do stuff like supporting the Willie Jackson media bill, and Seymour is being neutered by his coalition partners – who won’t even support his Treaty Principles bill.
  Trust National to sell us down the river again like Key sold us out with UNDRIP.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:09am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  Well, it is vital to praise one’s deity daily in this turbulent and uncertain world!
  
  This Deity approves.
  
  Of course, those who thought NZ was a secular society with separation of church and state might be a little surprised…
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:21am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  This is of course all done when they are not on the payroll and before they start working.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:27am
  - cmm
    
    And?
    
    Putting this obligation on people is likely turning off a lot of potential employees. One more reason to pack your bags and go to Oz.
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:11am
- Jinky
  
  can confirm that. I just turn up late so I miss the start of the meeting.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:50am
peterwn

The Herald has a paywalled analysis by Georgina Campbell about the recent Aratere grounding in which she said:
“A leaked safety bulletin document has revealed that the Aratere ferry was on autopilot when the “execute button” was accidentally pressed, causing the ship to veer off course before running aground in Picton.”
Then after they realised someone had press the wrong button, they did not know how to un-press it.
This to me is a pretty serious design blunder (for what seems to be newly installed equipment) and it is not surprising that the union representing the deck officers has lawyered up to avoid all the blame being sheeted home to the officers.
My questions are:
1. Why was the button covered with a flap to help prevent an actual press?
2. Why was there not another adjacent button to disengage the autopilot? Indeed why was there not a simple switch to turn the auto pilot on and off?
The auto pilot should be hard to turn on and easy to turn off.
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July 12, 2024 9:05am
- Benedict Yu
  
  Indeed. IIRC on commercial airplanes, the autopilot is engaged by reaching over to a panel and choosing a mode. In contrast, the autopilot is disengaged by the pilot with his or her thumb by pressing a button on the yoke or side stick. It takes a fraction of a second. There is then a distinctive audible warning so that both pilots know that the autopilot is OFF.
  
  I can’t see why a ferry should be different.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:21am
  - Taieri
    
    the autopilot is disengaged by the pilot with his or her thumb by pressing a button on the yoke or side stick
    ————
    
    Some marine steering systems had exactly that – there was either a button incorporated in the steering control handle, which needed to be pressed to activate autopilot or the steering control handle had to be lifted upwards. Both had an audible alarm and an indicator lamp. Autopilot in those system had a manual override, which didn’t need any “execute” buttons.
    Not sure what system is fitted on Aratere, but most modern vessels have just a joystick with a follow up or non follow up selector switch and push button controls for emergencies.
    
    Also, in the modern systems it is possible to program course settings and course alterations but this feature should not be used in restricted waters.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:38am
  - greybeard
    
    Benedict Yu !
    
    You always seem to have the definitive answer to ALL of the questions and problems presented to KB.
    
    Is there no limit to your experiences and opinions ?
    
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    July 12, 2024 6:07pm
- Taieri
  
  Why was the button covered with a flap to help prevent an actual press?
  ————–
  
  Not sure what exactly this particular button was actually “executing” (as I’ve never seen an “execute” button in my nearly 50 years at sea) but Main Engine “Emergency Stop” buttons on ships are ALWAYS covered with a flap to prevent unintended activation.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:29am
  - AitchW
    
    I imagine that it’s the change of course at the next waypoint.
    
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    July 12, 2024 1:42pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  AI is worrying. What if it gets out of control?
  Even Elon Musk wants AI to have a kill switch.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:50am
  - Terry Dalee
    
    This isn’t AI. Autopilots aren’t AI. They’re just a dumb dutiful tool.
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:12am
    - Yvette
      
      Terry Dalee – This isn’t AI. Autopilots aren’t AI. They’re just a dumb dutiful tool.
      
      So is AI just a dumb dutiful tool
      
      Human solutions are distinguished by empathy, creativity, intuition, and ethical judgment. Empathy considers emotional impacts, creativity fosters out-of-the-box thinking and unique ideas, intuition guides in ambiguity, and ethical judgment ensures humane, socially responsible decisions. AI, while simulating some traits, lacks genuine understanding and consciousness, limiting its ability to fully replicate these human attributes.
      
      That is from OpenAI, which, when asked, will “admit” AI’s own (present) short-comings. :o)
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:18pm
      - Terry Dalee
        
        Your confusing autopilot with AI.
        Autopilots cannot make decisions. They just do what you told them to do last…
        
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        July 12, 2024 1:55pm
- cmm
  
  Autopilot or not is not the issue.
  
  What matters is that people should still be monitoring the vessel’s course regardless of whether the autopilot is engaged or not.
  
  On top of that it should be very clear when the system is in autopilot and is not responding to user input.
  
  If someone grabs the wheel and turns it and is overridden by the autopilot then an alarm should be raised.
  
  What is broken is the abdication of responsibility to the control system and confusion about the state of the control surface.
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:16am
  - AitchW
    
    Surely manual input to the steering would override an autopilot? Even if you have to keep the control hard left to keep going ahead?
    Hopefully our resident master mariner can advise.
    
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    July 12, 2024 1:45pm
  - Paulus
    
    Hope the coffee wasn’t cold after all !
    
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    July 12, 2024 2:34pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Not a design blunder, it’s no training to the new system
  
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  July 12, 2024 1:02pm
Colville

Listening to the YouTube of The Four Horsemen: The Conversation That Sparked an Atheist Revolution last night driving home from hunting without a gun.
Question posed.. Which is the most evil.. Wahabbi Islam with its killing of gays and repression of women.. The Catholic Church for its support of Fascism giving rise to the Nazis.. Or Quakers for refusing to stand up to evil. Interesting I thought. Certainly a conversation starter at a party 😁
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July 12, 2024 9:21am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  When did Quakers refuse to stand up to evil?
  
  https://www.quakersintheworld.org/quakers-in-action/251/Quakers-in-Germany-since-1918
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:39am
- kowtow
  
  ‘The Catholic Church for its support of Fascism giving rise to the Nazis’
  
  No .The Catholics had their own party in Germany so they didn’t “give rise to the Nazis”.
  
  One could as easily blame French intransigence and vengefulness over war reparations for their rise,among many many other factors .
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:55am
- MCōs
  
  Your accusation of the Catholic Church’s support for the Nazis is a somewhat twisted version of the truth to suit your argument
  Vice versa is closer to the truth and it was the Nazis support for Christianity as a whole of which only 20% were Catholics
  https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-german-churches-and-the-nazi-state
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:00am
- Benedict Yu
  
  It is pretty simple IMO. From the 15th to the 19th centuries, the Catholic Church was the major impediment to reason and free thinking. Now that award goes to radical Islam.
  
  Yes I have watched that video a few times.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:25am
  - kowtow
    
    Overly simplistic.
    
    In fact Catholic theology and philosophy (inherited from the Old Testament) is intrinsically individualistic and the basis of our notion of free will .
    
    But we’ve been here so many times it just gets tedious.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:52am
    - MCōs
      
      The teachings of the Catholic Church are based on faith, which is dogmatic by definition.
      I distinctly remember in Christian Doctrine class at school someone asked the priest why we were required to believe something that couldn’t be understood and he said we had to take it on faith.
      That’s one of the reasons why religions have such grip on poorly educated people and why some religions keep at least some (women) of the people poorly educated
      Another reason is sense of community and belonging and power (men)
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:45pm
      - kowtow
        
        The teachings of the RC church are based on the bible and tradition.
        
        Belief in those teachings is based on faith.
        
        Doubt is allowed too.
        
        John 20 . 19 -29.
        
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        July 12, 2024 1:19pm
- Matt Long
  
  The secular Jews have a similar argument against orthodox who have military exemptions. The orthodox, or some of them argue their prayers are protecting the nation.
  Some middle ground could perhaps be found with the orthodox Jews praying as actively participate in defence of Israel.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:49am
  - Colville
    
    I believe that exemption has recently been stopped.
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:22pm
- gravedodger
  
  Except Colville, politics and religion are verboten at social gatherings except socialist events where they are topic du jour.
  
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  July 12, 2024 12:20pm
MCōs

The PM of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, has just had a meeting with President Putin of Russia and is now scheduled to meet Mr Trump to convey his best wishes.
In between he also went to visit President Xi in China and popped into the NATO meeting.
He also commented on the appalling attack on the children’s hospital in Ukraine without condemning the perpetrators
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July 12, 2024 9:26am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Thursday. That is today in the US.
  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cydvj24m4g4o
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:58am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Urban has just been elected on rotation to the leader of the European Parliament
  
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  July 12, 2024 1:03pm
- mawm
  
  The Russians claim that they have the trajectory of the missile responsible and it was not one of theirs. They also know what kind of missile it was and that it was supplied to Ukraine by Denmark. Orban is diplomatic in not condemning the perpetrators as this is still in doubt.
  
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  July 12, 2024 2:31pm
  - MCōs
    
    Russia would say that wouldn’t they
    They have the singular (almost) ability to pass off responsibility for all their egregious actions onto someone else.
    Twenty thousand prisoners, jailed for crimes against public order, accidentally tripped and fatally impaled their bottoms on umbrellas.
    
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    July 12, 2024 4:58pm
    - mawm
      
      And the West doesn’t? This is my shocked face.
      
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      July 12, 2024 5:53pm
Grunter

Letter in the Financial Times from many including Ian Proud, former UK Diplomat to Russia (aka ‘Mr Sanctions’ – he lead the implementation of the West’s sanctions against Russia)

Seize peace in Ukraine before it’s too late
https://www.prouddiplomat.com/post/seize-peace-in-ukraine-before-it-s-too-late-letter-in-the-financial-times

The letter makes total sense. The warmongers might not like it, but it is the only outcome that stops the carnage.
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July 12, 2024 9:27am
- Taieri
  
  The letter makes total sense. The warmongers might not like it, but it is the only outcome that stops the carnage
  ————
  
  It does have some merit, however it is unlikely to happen. Too many people have invested too much into this war. Zelenskyy can’t afford to cede any territory because it would be an end of him personally and Putin can’t give up what he’s gained for the very same reason. The best time to talk was in 2022 just after the most recent outbreak of hostilities. It didn’t happen and now it won’t, at least while either Zelenskyy or Putin remain in power.
  I see that one of the signatories of this letter was professor Richard Sakwa – his books on Russia and Ukraine provide very useful and enlightening background to what’s happening in that part of the world and are very good indeed.
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:45am
  - krazykiwi
    
    “Zelenskyy can’t afford to cede any territory because it would be an end of him personally”
    
    Perhaps he could go back to acting in sitcoms where he takes the role of president, just like the old days? Or comedy? Or law? Anyway his presidential term is over, and he must be tiring of his goons grabbing 40-year old men from street corners and press-ganging them into fighting and dying.
    
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    July 12, 2024 10:02am
    - Taieri
      
      goons grabbing 40-year old men from street corners and press-ganging them into fighting and dying
      ———–
      
      The military conscription covers all men between 25 and 60, so 60-years old men can be (and are) drafted. The average age of Ukrainian soldiers is about 47 at present.
      
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      July 12, 2024 10:44am
      - krazykiwi
        
        47 is old enough to be following one’s son(s) to a war grave. The US’s proxy-war with Russia is genocidal.
        
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        July 12, 2024 11:15am
  - Grunter
    
    Ian Proud is also worth following. His book illustrates firsthand of how the diplomatic world works, and how his expertise on economics and sanctions was at the forefront of the Russian sanctions program.
    
    Importantly, he argued all along that these sanctions would NOT work! He provided all the options on what could be done but recommended none of them because he said they would be ineffective and would force Russia to set up their own SWIFT system.
    
    He was dead right.
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:17am
- MCōs
  
  If he hadn’t have died in 1940 that letter could’ve been written by Neville Chamberlain
  
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  July 12, 2024 9:45am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Trump has some plan. What it is nobody knows.
  Whatever he is up to I think may work. Just have to wait.
  Stop the war in 24 hours he said. We will see.
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:04am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    He wants to pressure both, funding for Ukraine can be held over Zelenskyy, and more harsh tariffs can be held over Putin, he seemed to have them under control last time
    
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    July 12, 2024 1:06pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Could be G. Trump withholds a lot.
      
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      July 12, 2024 6:17pm
  - Paulus
    
    Rubbish, Trump is all piss and wind, but will win this time despite the electoral collusion which will take place by the Democrats.
    What he says and what he will do as President could be totally different like Ardern did and was.
    
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    July 12, 2024 2:47pm
    - Steve Otto(North Shore)
      
      Nov 5th………
      
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      July 12, 2024 6:18pm
Libertarians are right

For those that honestly think the Democrats don’t want to steal elections:

“Michigan’s process of handling election recounts and fraud allegations has changed, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signing two controversial bills into law Monday. …

Among other changes, the law will eliminate the board of canvasser’s investigative powers, instead requiring the board to refer any allegations of fraud to the relevant county prosecutor, rather than conducting a recount.

Only alleged errors could merit a recount, and only when the alleged errors could potentially change election results.”

So now allegations of fraud must go to Political appointees rather than a-political people. I’m sure the Democrat prosecutors would investigate allegations against their party right?

Also, having a subjective idea of what constitutes “potentially changes the election result” also seems really questionable.

As I said after the last election, the US needs to strengthen their controls around elections, not weaken them. Why are the Democrats so intent on weakening them?

In sports, drugs etc that hide the use of performance enhancing drugs (called masking agents) are also banned. Policies like these from Whitmer make it basically impossible to prove election fraud. Surely any reasonable person would question why the Democrats are so invested in these policies?
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July 12, 2024 9:53am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  The thing that needs to be stopped in mail in ballots. Video proof of night time ballot drops need to be looked at. Also voter ID. Shit I had to show my passport to buy alcohol in Hawaii and Alaska.
  Voter ID is used for many things in the US, but not for voting!
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:10am
goNZ1

as the Nato press conference a few minutes ago Biden introduced Zelensky as ”President Putin” before correcting himself – UNBELIEVABLE he has lasted this long !!
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July 12, 2024 9:54am
- Cassandra
  
  Biden has done this all his life. It was a slip of the tongue. Embarrassing, that’s all. Obviously he should retire but he’s not senile – yet. Probably the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. Moderate cognitive impairment.
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:00am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Moderate? He can’t even string two sentences together without a teleprompter. That is why he was a mess in the Debate.
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:12am
Rusty

What else could Luxon say about Biden — hes really a bumbling senile old fool?
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July 12, 2024 9:54am
- peterwn
  
  The Prime Minister of a nation with a similar population to Maricopa County (Phoenix area) Arizona can hardly say derogatory things about the President of the USA no matter how true.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:09am
- Damocles11
  
  “We had a productive meeting, the conversations were extremely positive and the President reaffirmed the strong bonds of friendship between our two nations.”
  Personal comments don’t come into it. You don’t say the other fellow is mentally ‘sharp’ and likewise you don’t say you found him to be a dim bulb.
  Luxon is Dunning-Kruger personified.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:15am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    He never said he was sharp that’s crap, he said he was fine when I spoke to him, what more can he say
    
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    July 12, 2024 1:08pm
kevn

Didn’t see this in NZ msm…
https://dailysceptic.org/2024/07/11/australia-turns-back-two-boatloads-of-illegal-immigrants/
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July 12, 2024 9:55am
- MCōs
  
  There’s a lot of stuff happening in the world that’s not reported here by the MSM
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:13am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    We don’t have journalists could be the reason.
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:31am
    - MCōs
      
      No NZ media has a journalist/reporter/correspondent in that neck of the woods.
      A stream of news comes in from agencies around the world and newsrooms must decide what to print.
      Stories about refugees, asylum seekers, illegal migrants are a dime a dozen
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:24pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Repeaters
        
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        July 12, 2024 6:19pm
Maggie Pie

YIP… o’l Joe sharp as ever!

A few moments ago he introduced Prez Zelensky as…. “PRESIDENT PUTIN”

😎 😎 😎
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July 12, 2024 10:06am
- Blog-aholic
  
  Cotton eyed Joe. Or cotton wool between his ears Joe.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:19am
- mogg
  
  Last week Biden said that ‘he was proud to be America’s first black woman president’.
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:20am
Swifty

Thanks a lot Hipkins!

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/521942/te-pukenga-ordered-to-hire-consultants-to-lead-major-cost-cutting-exercise

My god, and he has the utter gall to continue to tell New Zealanders that we should vote for him and his team as they’re the best in town.

Total and utter reckless waste. Wilful and wanton destruction of the wealth of New Zealanders.

And for what?
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July 12, 2024 10:23am
- Swifty
  
  And what penalty, consequence or sanction does our political system impose on politicians who squander our wealth in this way?
  
  None of course! They get away completely scot free!
  
  You want to improve our political system? Forget about Maori wards, minimum party vote percentages, karakia in Parliament or waka-jumping laws etc – far better we create an environment where we hold our politicians to a much, much higher standard and damn well excoriate anyone who behaves in this way, to the extent that they have no option to resign and never darken our doors again.
  
  As it stands all Hipkins has to do is announce more funding of Matariki celebrations (using our money) and then suddenly he’s back in the good books again!
  
  My god we’re a stupid and gullible lot.
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:23am
- Ian Boag
  
  Just out of curiosity …. weren’t most of the unmerged polytechs in the poo before the merger? Perhaps the basic problem is that the polytech system is underfunded?
  
  Is there a “statement of aim” (mission statment?) or whatever you might call it about what the polys are meant to provide?
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:50am
  - Swifty
    
    So a hugely expensive and disruptive merger solves an underfunding problem exactly how? And exactly when? And exactly to what degree?
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:08pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      I have no idea. I did see a post a while back about how enrolments in some courses had cratered at the Wanganui campus which the poster blamed on the merger …. I still don’t understand that one.
      
      I won’t be surprised if the demerge is also costly and disruptive ….
      
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      July 12, 2024 12:23pm
  - Taieri
    
    Perhaps the basic problem is that the polytech system is underfunded?
    ————-
    
    Perhaps the basic problem is that the polytech system lost the plot?
    
    Some strange things are happening there, such as for example this challenging and useful programme:
    
    https://www.op.ac.nz/programmes/nzqa/doctor-of-professional-practice/
    
    But then again, why should we be surprised if some of the polytech “professors” have achievements like this one:
    “(…)has a PhD in consumer loyalty in wine tourism(…)”
    
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    July 12, 2024 12:20pm
  - peterwn
    
    The Southland one was operating successfully and not at a loss. Indeed it charged students no fees. It had the support of the community who donated money to it. Then thanks to Hipkins and co, it was ‘nationalised’ and had its financial reserves (effectively community money) plundered.
    
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    July 12, 2024 5:35pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Look at todays poll, Labour crashing to 25%, Hipkins dropping to mid terms as Luxon surges to mid 30s
  
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  July 12, 2024 1:10pm
lifesgood

There are some commenters on here who obviously loathe Luxon and will find any pathetic little excuse to condemn him. I am curious as to what their agenda is and who they would have preferred as Prime Minster. Come on you lot, put your money where your mouth is. Myself, I am delighted we no longer have Labour and Ms Ardern pretending to run the country. I also like a PM who is intelligent and diplomatic, it’s so refreshing.
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July 12, 2024 10:24am
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  I am happy that Ardern’s lies caught up with her and she ran like a coward.
  Imagine if she stayed and won in 2023, and continued to screw us over.
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:35am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    She e we old have lost worse than Hipkins, let’s not forget Labour dropped to the 39s just before she ran
    
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    July 12, 2024 1:13pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  They are deluded, there was two opportunities, Hipkins or Luxon, some fools blame centre voters for not voting Act, why, they can take a hike, their hatred is noted
  
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  July 12, 2024 1:12pm
  - Damocles11
    
    And the hatred displayed towards David Seymour prior to the election is also noted.
    So if more rusted on National voters had voted for ACT we wouldn’t have had a centre right government with Luxon at the helm? Turn it up. Total logic fail there. Maybe some of the older generations are still stuck in ‘two parties only, it’s FPP’ thinking. The world has changed.
    Yes, good we don’t have Hipkins leading a Left government. But *genuine* right wing people don’t want a weak ‘Labour Lite’ government either. We want something with a bit more substance than that.
    
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    July 12, 2024 6:22pm
Surely Knott

Attack 1: Elderly woman (80 yrs old) assaulted with screwdriver/flashlight in own home in Henderson in June 27. Woman in stable condition in hospital with serious facial injuries.

Man arrested a couple of days ago. Will they tell us the identity of the man?

Attack 2: Elderly woman viciously knocked to the ground on Federal St. Hospitalised in serious/stable condition. Man arrested. 7 May.

“Police said officers quickly located and arrested a man, who is now before the Auckland District Court.” It doesn’t say the courts gave name suppression. So why is his identity withheld?

Who is withholding the the identity of the man? Will they tell us? When?

Attack 3: Young Man on bus has teeth knocked out by racist attacker. Woman Arrested. Will they tell us the identity of the woman? When?
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July 12, 2024 10:26am
- Chuck Bird
  
  There are definitely times when there should not be name suppression.
  
  When there should be name suppression is before someone appears in court. If denied it stays in place until an appeal is heard.
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:11am
- gravedodger
  
  And if he is one of the special people perhaps some info on his tribal affiliations.
  
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  July 12, 2024 12:59pm
Bridgenag

AND LIKE THAT, THE CLAIM VACCINES ARE THE WORLD’S BEST STUDIED PRODUCT DIES
The world’s leading vaccinologist, Dr. Stanley Plotkin, and company have just capitulated…

https://open.substack.com/pub/aaronsiri/p/and-like-that-the-claim-vaccines?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
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July 12, 2024 10:34am
- mawm
  
  Andrew Wakefield must be smiling. Although his study was not powered enough to be conclusive there was enough evidence there for a funded study to be done as to whether MMR vaccines are responsible for autism in children. Instead he was ridiculed and canceled.
  
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  July 12, 2024 2:49pm
- mawm
  
  Ileal-lymphoid-nodular hyperplasia, non-specific colitis, and pervasive developmental disorder in children
  A J Wakefield, et al.
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9500320/
  
  Multikingdom and functional gut microbiota markers for autism spectrum disorder
  
  Qi Su,. et al
  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01739-1
  
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  July 12, 2024 3:16pm
I remember when

Neighbour’s barking dog ‘ruins retirement: ODT. 7 Feb.
The dog owner said an animal control officer visited him on two occasions last year, once mid-year and again in December, but said the dog was normal.
Christine said she had filed several forms given to her by the district council reporting date and time of barking, had met the mayor, emailed and phoned the DC and noise control contractor Talbot Security Group.
In March last year, environmental monitoring manager Rick Catchpowle told her by email the animal control officers would continue to monitor the situation, “you therefore do not have to call ADC again.”
This month he told her the officers had found no grounds to support her complaints.
Based on investigations and discussions with other neighbours, there was no evidence to justify an abatement notice.
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July 12, 2024 10:38am
Benedict Yu

Hopefully this will be the end.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/world-news/350340522/joe-biden-introduces-zelenskyy-president-putin-nato-conference
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July 12, 2024 10:38am
- Blog-aholic
  
  He is a puppet President and they want to keep his strings in play.
  
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  July 12, 2024 10:59am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Obama wants a 4th term.
    
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    July 12, 2024 11:51am
I remember when

Dog barking complaint investigated: Star News.
14 Feb.
“In this case the dog owner has been co-operative.”
Recordings from both the complainant and our team show no evidence of persistent and loud barking or howling occurring to support a case of public nuisance.
When abatement notices were issued, it was “because of multiple complaints from more than one neighbour over an observed and recorded period.”
We have investigated this complaint, several times at our own cost, monitored barking during day and night, and supported the dog owner to minimise potential barking.
Christine said the low number of abatement notices issued suggested the district council ignored barking dog issues.
She had video recording evidence of “dozens” of incidents of the barking and howling next door going back to March last year.
“Despite going out there many times – in fact over 70 times (76) our staff have been out at that property, we haven’t witnessed what Christine says is happening and we’ve had no other complaints from other neighbours.”
So it’s very hard to verify her story, which is why we haven’t taken action.”
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July 12, 2024 11:00am
Chuck Bird

Trump pays $1.57
Harris pays $4.20
Biden pays $10.00

https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/politics/us-politics/us-presidential-election-2024-5479667
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July 12, 2024 11:07am
- Tauhei Notts
  
  Hey, Chuck,
  I look at Betfair’s odds.
  What is more interesting is the trend.
  Over the past three days Biden has gone from $6 to $10. Harris has firmed from $10.50 to $5.30. The Donald has weakened from $1.62 to $1.69. Only seven cents but any mathemetician will tell you that 7 cents is significant for a long odds on contender.
  It is fluid betting market. 42 days ago Biden was $2.54 and Harris was as rough as guts at $110! The fluidity makes it fascinating to watch.
  
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  July 12, 2024 11:45am
- MCōs
  
  Considering Harris isn’t in the race that’s pretty remarkable odds.
  Come back to us if Biden withdraws his candidacy
  Betting odds are based on the situation as it stands; unlike polls which are based on a hypothetical situation
  
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  July 12, 2024 5:07pm
Drone

For those KBers witha world view the Internet is full of wonder, this website purports to rank cities https://www.spottedbylocals.com/blog/alpha-beta-and-gamma-cities/ Auckland scores Beta+ and poor old Wellington a low Gamma.
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July 12, 2024 11:23am
- Taieri
  
  Wouldn’t pay any notice to this sort of ranking. The ranking on this very page also lists Rotterdam as a low Gamma+, a city with only a minor economic connection with the world economy.
  Rotterdam, the largest seaport in Europe and the largest in the world outside of SE Asia…
  
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  July 12, 2024 5:04pm
Ghost

Taxpayers curia poll

National was up 2.2 points on to 37.6% in July compared to last month’s poll, while Labour dropped 3.5 points to 25.9%.

The Greens and Act were both relatively static with the Greens on 12.5% (-0.2 points ) and Act on 9.1% (-0.6 points).

New Zealand First was up 1.7 points to 7.3% while Te Pāti Māori was down 0.5 points to 3.5%.

Article
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July 12, 2024 11:46am
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  Ghost – Is there any logical explanation as why the toxic Greens are still polling 12.5%? I cannot believe 1/8th of us are crackpots….
  
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  July 12, 2024 12:31pm
  - gravedodger
    
    Err perhaps there is a component of simple folk who are so bereft of what the Greens actually propose and still believe “they will save the Planet”, could account for a considerable part of the 12.5
    
    6 0
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    July 12, 2024 1:03pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Anyone but Labour perhaps
    
    3 0
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    July 12, 2024 1:15pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  And Luxon surged to mid 30s while Hipkins drops to mid teens
  
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  July 12, 2024 1:14pm
Maggie Pie

Just heard that Jason Walls on ZB comparing Chis Luxon ‘meet & greets’ to when he was away in the US with Jacinda.

Sounds like Jase is STILL having wet-dreams about her 😛
14 1
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July 12, 2024 12:35pm
- greybeard
  
  I heard that, and I suspect that Tim Roxborogh is in the same camp.
  By the way, what has happened to Tim Dower ? We haven’t heard him on ZB for months.
  
  8 0
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  July 12, 2024 12:40pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    Roxborogh is a total turn-off. Him and that Roaming Travesty.
    (Never thort I’d say it, but Dower is 100 times better than both of them)
    
    11 1
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    July 12, 2024 1:03pm
    - lifesgood
      
      God help us!!! I had the misfortune to hear that waste of space, Travers. on the radio last night going on and on and on about g strings. That guy seriously has a probleem. He’s a total pain in the Ar**
      
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      July 12, 2024 8:20pm
Swifty

I wasn’t aware that Roger Corman has recently died:

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/roger-corman-dead-producer-independent-b-movie-1235999591/amp/

A giant.
3 0
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July 12, 2024 12:50pm
- All_on_Red
  
  I still have a huge collection of Metal Hurlant comics
  Vale Roger
  
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  July 12, 2024 7:53pm
Ghost

The story that never ends, continues

Police were called after an angry confrontation between embattled former Green MP Darleen Tana and a migrant worker, in which Tana later admitted her “mama-bear instincts got the better of her”.

The worker claimed Tana approached him at his new employer’s premises in March 2023 threatening defamation action against him if he persisted in an employment complaint against her husband’s bike business.

Article
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July 12, 2024 12:56pm
- Blog-aholic
  
  Good, let her take that defamation case to court. Then let all the inwards of the truth come spilling out for the public to see……
  
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  July 12, 2024 1:06pm
- AitchW
  
  Yet another leak by the greens. It appears that hypocrisy and subterfuge are now part of their kaupapa.
  
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  July 12, 2024 1:50pm
- John Loveridge
  
  Oh, mama bear instincts! Why didn’t she just say so in the first place? There’d have been none of this trouble she’s in.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:24pm
Maggie Pie

Yet another casualty of the Ardern Labour Gubmint 🙁

So sad to hear the Queen Street ‘SEPHORA STORE’ is going the same way as S&C
and will be pulling the plug next month.
Must admit I stopped going there after Covid, but still shop online.
And good luck to the owners of the building trying to find another anchor-tenant
with the profile of an International Retailer.

Queen Street is a lost cause. It’s been handed over to rough sleepers, gangs, druggies,
and a variety of low-lifes that make it one of the scariest areas in the city to shop or live.

How long till it becomes our own….. TENDERLOIN?

https://twitter.com/war24182236/status/1811205711768211828
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July 12, 2024 1:46pm
- Jethrod
  
  SPQR is in liquidation also…. announced today….see Horrid
  
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  July 12, 2024 3:22pm
Benedict Yu

More good news…

India has just commissioned 31 Gigawatts of new coal fired power generation to be installed in just five years.

https://joannenova.com.au/2024/07/not-transitioning-india-burns-more-coal-than-the-us-and-europe-combined-and-just-ordered-33b-in-new-coal-plants/

That NEW capacity is equivalent to the entire existing gas and coal fired generating capacity of Australia.
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July 12, 2024 2:54pm
- Sir Cullen's Sidekick
  
  BY – Now the toxic Greens will say we can offset India’s coal burning by taxing Kiwis 10 cents a litre on Petrol and the stupid Kiwis will say “yeah bring it on. Let us save the planet”. Gosh I hope I live to see the day when the toxic Greens disappear from NZ.
  
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  July 12, 2024 6:48pm
Chuck Bird

Stuff has a climate alarmist Prof on. I emailed him and asked if he would support nuclear power as recommended at COP28? I bet he will not answer let alone debate.

Govt reveals climate strategy but is it as ‘comprehensive’ and ‘ambitious’ as it says? | Stuff.co.nz

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq7ZEMQJ1Xo
5 3
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July 12, 2024 2:54pm
- All_on_Red
  
  Oh noes, not an email
  
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  July 12, 2024 7:53pm
Ghost

Do people not know that before you take any technology in to get repaired remove your files, encrypt your phone, factory reset, because you should always consider the person repairing it will look through it.

A woman who claimed a Mobile Planet employee tried to send himself her friend’s nude photos has spoken out for the first time since the incident.

Krisy Erin posted a TikTok video on Wednesday that claimed a male employee at the Mobile Planet kiosk in Auckland’s Sylvia Park mall had tried to AirDrop himself the photos.

Article
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July 12, 2024 3:42pm
- Swifty
  
  The sort of dirty scumbag who will go through women’s knicker drawers while there to fix a tap or sweep the chimney.
  
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  July 12, 2024 3:58pm
- peterwn
  
  Trouble is, if the device needs repairs it may not be possible to delete photos and other information before taking it to the shop.
  
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  July 12, 2024 5:44pm
Maggie Pie

WOW!!

Another one bites the dust 🙁

SPQR has just closed it doors.
Haven’t been there since since the ‘Felicity Ferret’ days. We used to haunt the place
every Friday. Often found ourselves in the gossip pages of Metro.
Then along came the Viaduct….

Sad in a lot a ways. But another casualty of Ardern and her comrades.
12 2
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July 12, 2024 3:45pm
- Swifty
  
  Used to go there frequently for a Sunday lunch in the 00s and 10s.
  
  Just superb.
  
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  July 12, 2024 4:00pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    It was the place to be seen for sure.
    We had a table booked for 6 every Friday lunch @12:30… outside weather dependant.
    We used to arrive about 11 and drive up & down Ponzi Rd until we got a parking-spot right outside for the Porsche.
    Those were the days b4 Auckland went totally off-the-rails of course.
    
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    July 12, 2024 5:00pm
    - Scooter
      
      Maybe Aucks traffic woes have played a part in its downfall (not to mention crime of course, cost of living etc) and this is who has been in charge of NZTA since 2020.
      
      https://x.com/TheRedbaiter/status/1759064309160935700?t=w5DANkTJTVB_sCRHORm5OQ&s=19
      
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      July 12, 2024 6:24pm
      - Maggie Pie
        
        Therein lies the root to many of Aucklands traffic problems….
        
        2 0
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        July 12, 2024 8:02pm
      - All_on_Red
        
        Jesus, that was a depressing watch
        Talk about a classic climber of the ‘greasy pole’ with that collection of buzzwords
        What on earth does Te Ao Maori have to do with transport?
        They didn’t even have the wheel!
        
        5 0
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        July 12, 2024 8:11pm
- fernglas
  
  It’s not just Auckland retail and dining:
  “Visitor numbers still at around 80% of pre-Covid levels”
  The rest of the world is back to or well past 2019, while NZ languishes.
  
  6 0
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  July 12, 2024 4:20pm
- Parnell Gun Club
  
  Devastating. A dark day indeed.
  
  5 0
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  July 12, 2024 4:42pm
  - All_on_Red
    
    I met my wife there
    Walked in, heard her laugh, saw her and I was struck.
    Absolutely stunningly beautiful red head.
    Still together 24 years later. Our anniversary a week ago.
    What.a.woman
    Still gorgeous too.
    
    7 0
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    July 12, 2024 8:00pm
    - Manu-Rau
      
      Yes. She certainly is 😉
      
      0 1
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      July 13, 2024 5:16pm
- Taieri
  
  Often found ourselves in the gossip pages of Metro.
  ————
  
  Visitors from Hawkes Bay?
  
  4 0
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  July 12, 2024 4:50pm
  - Maggie Pie
    
    😎
    
    3 3
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    July 12, 2024 6:24pm
- John Loveridge
  
  You and Fliss, eh? Must have been quite the pair.
  
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  July 12, 2024 8:26pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Oh just before you rush off to get your craft beer shandy and jump on the train, this is from Dildo, Canada. It is a place for real. Conception Bay – no shit! Locals say it is a ‘dickie bird’

https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/giant-phallus-shaped-iceberg-floating-in-conception-bay-surprises-residents-of-dildo-canada?
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July 12, 2024 4:25pm
- graham
  
  There is a city in Chile named Concepción. It is also a surname, and – I kid you not – I once met someone with the name ‘Jolly Concepcion’.
  
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  July 12, 2024 6:06pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Biden was making a joke.
Come on! Lefties are born without a sense of humour and it can not be installed – we know this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWClVIH27A
2 1
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July 12, 2024 4:52pm
MCōs

Whenever a dairy owner has been harmed in a robbery and the television is there to record the reaction Sunny Kaushal has been front and centre goading the government into action
Now the government have put him in charge of some sort of two year working group to come up with answers to the problem and effectively got him away from the cameras
How clever is that!
In the meantime there’s a new ‘tough on crime’ administration in charge and little seems to have improved and Sunny Kaushal is not around to make a fuss.
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July 12, 2024 5:28pm
- greybeard
  
  Sunny Kaushal represents thousands of small business owners who are constantly subjected to these filthy ferals’ attacks.
  
  He has been around for a long time and has been a dedicated voice for the victims.
  
  Unlike you, MCos, he has not only been personally affected by these scum but has had to endure friends and family also being attacked, threatened and terrified.
  
  There is no suggestion that he has been isolated from making public statements because of this new Govt. initiative.
  
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  July 12, 2024 7:08pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350341531/watch-unbeef-lievable-moment-duty-cop-catches-meat-thief-red-handed
“CCTV of the incident showed the man – dressed in a hoodie and pink fluffy slippers – appear stunned, before making a swift getaway.”
A hoodie and pink fluffy slippers !
The normal Auckland welfare beneficiary costume !
7 1
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July 12, 2024 5:53pm
- AitchW
  
  Buy that man a Lion Red.
  Then shoot the pink slipper wearing loser.
  
  2 0
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  July 12, 2024 7:10pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/food-drink/350339374/piccolo-morso-champions-custard-square

Well I reckon that these people below have the best custard squares in NZ.

Unfortunately they are too far from Auckland so are not considered.

https://www.facebook.com/SweetDreamsFoxton/
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July 12, 2024 6:22pm
MCōs

Personally I’ve had enough of Biden chatter
Here’s something else
https://x.com/alistair_king/status/1811163601257803829?s=61&t=yFkzCNMWRCaVt1p5eRxUog
1 1
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July 12, 2024 7:15pm

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