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October 10, 2024 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 10 October 2024

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General Debate

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kowtow

Inflation’s under control …….yeah right.
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October 10, 2024 8:02am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  We find out next week, and they are suggesting low 2%, are you suggesting that’s lies? Or are you meaning things like insurance and rates that are not in the basket that makes up inflation?
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:35am
  - Quail
    
    What about stagflation? Not enough power to run a sawmill,not enough livestock to keep a freezing works running.Shut downs in most towns and cities. Immigration changing to migration.Government spending up and oil prices under pressure because of conflicts offshore.
    Rates insurances and wages are all drivers of inflation if not matched with productivity, and they certainly are on the rise.
    Optimistic I am not.
    
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    October 12, 2024 5:28pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  As at 17th July it was 3.3%. Announcement next week (16th) and it is likely to have reduced.
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:42am
  - kowtow
    
    3.3 % , not if you like chocolate , it isn’t.
    
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    October 10, 2024 11:40am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Are you really going to suggest inflation is higher because chocolate? Petrol is down.
      
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      October 10, 2024 2:37pm
- Taieri
  
  Inflation’s under control …….yeah right.
  ———–
  
  It is. That’s why my power bill is going up 10% from the next month.
  
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  October 10, 2024 12:55pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Cost rises next month are nothing to do with CPI from the last three months
    
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    October 10, 2024 2:39pm
  - kowtow
    
    rates and insurance through the roof .
    
    and continue to soar .
    
    but inflation’s under control.
    
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    October 10, 2024 4:47pm
    - info@cruzpro.com
      
      The cost of insuring our car went up to 20% of the value of our car (worth about $5,000). The Insurance company wanted $1,000 a year with a $1000 deductible.
      
      We switched to another insurance company with a $500 deductible for $700 a year.
      
      It pays to shop around.
      
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      October 10, 2024 7:16pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Rates and inflation are not part of the basket that makes up CPI
      
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      October 10, 2024 9:18pm
Cassandra

You’d have to wonder if Churchill was actually right when he said complimentary things about democracy. Michigan has lots of Arab voters. They gave Biden the edge. Now they’ve deserted Harris because of her policy towards Israel (which is the same as Biden’s). 18% are voting for Trump (a strong supporter of Israel) and 40% for the Green candidate, effectively a vote for Trump and likely to give him the state and the election. Democracy is as Churchill said but it does depend on voters having a few clues.
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October 10, 2024 8:04am
- Inandout
  
  Cass, maybe Arabs look at Tampon Tim and his extreme views on sexual matters and regard this as anti their religion.
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:11am
  - AitchW
    
    Tut tut Inandout, I believe that you mean ‘gender matters’. Gender and sex aren’t the same in this brave new world in which we now live.
    Ugh. What have we become?
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:13am
- cmm
  
  Democracy of the form Churchill was talking about didn’t really have a huge welfare system thrown into the mix.
  
  Yes, there was unemployment insurance since the 1920s or so and there was the Beveridge Report in 1942 which suggested building a welfare system.
  
  Churchill was opposed to that, but Labour promised all the bells and whistles of the Beveridge plan and that is essentially what bought them the 1945 election.
  
  Of course, at that stage welfare had not become the inter-generational problem it is now.
  
  When people can vote for others to pay for things they want it really isn’t democracy any more – well not of the form Churchill was really talking about.
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:17am
  - Jake Dee
    
    The modern welfare system is a direct outgrowth of the democratic system, as you noted bribing voters from public funds.
    In a non democratic state the welfare system would be most effective if it was based on what work the recipient had done or was likely to do. Under a democratic system it would be most effective if it was based on which way the recipient voted or was likely to vote.
    This is the modern state digging its own grave for a parliamentary majority
    
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    October 10, 2024 6:13pm
- cmm
  
  I think it is important to view those Arabs as individuals rather than just as a voting bloc.
  
  Some of those Arabs will be anti-Israel/pro-Hamas.
  
  Some will be people who left the region and moved to USA because they wanted to move to a new country to get away from that mess. They really are “new Americans” looking for an opportunity to step away from their past.
  
  I would expect to see a lot of Trump support in the latter group. They don’t want to be overrun by illegals and the other joys offered by Harris.
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:32am
- Keith White
  
  Churchill also said —
  
  “If Hitler invaded hell I would make at least a favourable reference to the devil in the House of Commons.”
  
  Man had a point.
  
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  October 10, 2024 12:57pm
cmm

Who would want to travel on a bus – let alone drive one?

I used buses a few times when I lived in Auckland in the 1990s. The behaviour was bad enough then: youth drawing graffiti on the bus, deliberately damaging seats etc etc. At least then the drivers still had a bit of authority.

Now drivers are told to not argue with passengers and let them do what they want.

Are buses going to need security personnel?

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/bus-attack-driver-of-20-years-feels-unsafe-after-unprovoked-neck-slashing-by-passenger/Q2JKELATABH5TPWAXBCFVXME7M/
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October 10, 2024 8:08am
- MCōs
  
  I saw some guys get into a half hearted argument with a woman driver in 2012 near Silvia Park, but she soon sorted them out.
  I also encountered an English woman pensioner shouting racist insults at a driver in Wellington c1975 because he wouldn’t give her a discount. I told her to shut up. She did.
  Apart from that — nothing
  Guess I must have been lucky all these years.
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:30am
  - cmm
    
    I traveled out to St Heliers which, you would hope, is civilized. But that bus did continue to Glen Innes. Maybe still does.
    
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    October 10, 2024 8:35am
  - Taieri
    
    an English woman pensioner shouting racist insults at a driver in Wellington c1975
    ———–
    
    What a great memory!
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:14am
    - ISeeRed
      
      Yes. And he dredges that up every time someone posts about anti-white discrimination or bigotry by non-whites, the media, academia, government policy etc. We must be reminded white people can be racist at every opportunity.
      
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      October 10, 2024 9:49am
      - MCōs
        
        We you get to my age there’s a tendency to repeat oneself
        
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        October 10, 2024 10:22am
    - MCōs
      
      It was so unusual it kind of sticks in you memory that sort of thing
      
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      October 10, 2024 10:18am
    - Jethrod
      
      May have been his wife to be?
      
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      October 10, 2024 10:24am
      - MCōs
        
        You can ask me if you like
        Don’t be shy
        I’m right here
        
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        October 10, 2024 11:12am
- AitchW
  
  Yet another attack on an Auckland bus driver. When will they union demand safety screens for drivers? If it’s going to take years to fit permanent screens to the busses why can they not put temporary screens up, after all shops ann over the country did it for covid!
  Why is Worksafe not prosecuting the operator for not providing a safe work environment? Is the operator too big for Worksafe to tackle?
  The drivers would be quite entitled to refuse to drive busses without a screen. Again, where is the union?
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:09am
  - Surely Knott
    
    If the bus isn’t safe for the driver without a screen how is it safe for passengers.
    
    Why don’t they release the CCTV?? Name And arrest the man??
    
    And particularly for innercity routes in areas where people might be drinking would be good to see security with dogs hopping on and off various buses and bus stops.
    
    If a bus driver has a well trained dog they should be able to bring their dog to work. Why not? Passengers can bring dogs on buses now. . A German Shepard lying at your feet would be a great disincentive.
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:50am
  - imalwaysright
    
    “When will they union demand safety screens for drivers?”
    
    Instead of putting honest working folk in cages, how about the police and the judiciary put the perpetrators in cages?
    
    I would suggest a mandatory five year minimum sentence for assaults on people serving the public. Particularly paramedics, police and firemen.
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:56am
    - cmm
      
      “I would suggest a mandatory five year minimum sentence for assaults on people”
      
      For any unprovoked attack on anyone – not just the those serving the public.
      
      Those “young women” beating people up to post on Tiktok – off you go!
      
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      October 10, 2024 10:27am
      - Paulus
        
        Our Jails are not big enough yet !
        
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        October 10, 2024 10:37am
      - cmm
        
        Paulus – time to make the prisons less pleasant.
        
        Why do crims need anything more than container housing?
        
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        October 10, 2024 10:51am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Paulus
        Three to a bunk is 8 hrs each.
        I would be looking at making our prisons smaller and making everyone mix in general prison population. Let the gangs and pedos fend for themselves.
        
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        October 10, 2024 11:12am
      - Jack5
        
        Are they putting plain-clothes cops on Auckland buses randomly?
        
        Shortage of police no longer an issue.
        
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        October 10, 2024 1:42pm
    - PurplePen
      
      Wouldn’t need to be 5 years. 3 to 6 months to a prison outsourced to China or Thailand. I’ll pay the airfare.
      
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      October 10, 2024 2:47pm
- lastmanstanding
  
  I havent been on a bus in NZ since 1970 when I bought my first car. I expect the problem is the class of people who travel on buses. Not exactly top draw as my dear old late Mum used to say.
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:33am
  - MCōs
    
    Your remark will be music to the ears of Simeon Brown
    Btw
    NZ has the highest proportion of car ownership in the world at 9 per 10 people
    Singapore has 1 per 10, but about 90% home ownership rate.
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:30am
    - Paulus
      
      Have you ever seen the costs and price of a Car in Singapore.
      The same her would drop the numbers into a few thousands in all.
      
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      October 10, 2024 10:38am
      - MCōs
        
        I have. Eye watering
        
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        October 10, 2024 11:15am
      - Jack5
        
        Singapore: Real (i.e. inflation adjusted) GDP per capita, 2023:
        $US127,500. Second in the world.
        
        New Zealand: Real GDP per capita 2023: $US48,800. Forty-fourth in the world.
        
        Both in 2021 US dollars
        
        Source: CIA World Factbook.
        
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        October 10, 2024 1:51pm
    - alloytoo
      
      Monaco has 9.12 cars per 10 people.
      
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      October 10, 2024 11:03am
    - Taieri
      
      Singapore has 1 per 10, but about 90% home ownership rate
      ————
      
      The vast majority of Singapore homes are dingy flats in high rise towers. Which is understandable considering its size, but, having spent some time in such a “home” while living overseas, I don’t think we should aspire to this kind of living. I wouldn’t anyway.
      
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      October 10, 2024 11:39am
  - peterwn
    
    Your late mum wasn’t Lady Brackness by any chance? Anyway reasonable people travel on buses as that London judge pointed out when he defined the ‘reasonable man’ as someone you would see on the Clapham Omnibus.
    I frequently met a retired guy on the bus. He was a former university Vice Chancellor and a top public servant. No one would call him ‘not exactly top drawer’.
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:53am
    - wsk12345
      
      Given you could be describing g a loser like Robberaon, there is no guarantee tee that your fellow passenger was anything like top drawer!
      
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      October 10, 2024 1:00pm
      - peterwn
        
        The gentleman I am referring to is now deceased was Vice Chancellor of two different universities. Comparing him with Robbo would be completely beyond the pale even though they occupied the same office at different times.
        
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        October 10, 2024 4:46pm
    - PurplePen
      
      I thought it was Lady Bracknell.
      
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      October 10, 2024 2:50pm
      - peterwn
        
        Sorry, my typo.
        
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        October 10, 2024 4:41pm
- PurplePen
  
  what do they do, the authorities I mean, in places such as New York. Sydney even. Do they have the same issue and have they resolved it. I’m guessing a no nonsense approach with real consequences.
  
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  October 10, 2024 2:44pm
Gravelroad

“No one feels wealthy and sorted right now. Least of all the beloved Middle NZ he thinks he’s appealing to when he says stuff like this.”
So says Verity Johnson in a opinion article today about Mr Luxon.
Gee, thanks for letting me know.
I had no idea. Most of the people I hang round with are doing all right.
But don’t let a chance to diss the Prime Minister go by, eh.
What is it about left wing activist “journalists” that they constantly feel the need to make us fit in to their own image?
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October 10, 2024 8:23am
- igm
  
  She even had a quote from the wimp Hipkins . . . how low can Stuff go?
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:27am
  - kowtow
    
    Yesterday there was a Hipkins quote where he said it was important to keep cowboys out of the building industry , well how about keeping utter incompetents out of parliament !
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:26am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    A quote? Where is he, still no sign of the muppet, he has been away more than a month, and so has O’Connor god knows why. Looks like they have had a reshuffle, but bizarrely the voter has not been told, O’Connor appears to have lost his portfolios, and Veral I noticed was not asking the health questions in the last few Q times
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:44am
    - DeepBlue
      
      He was planned to be back in NZ on 1 October.. a few Facebook Posts show he is in NZ… probably some leave over school holidays.
      
      But he certainly hasn’t come back from the UK all fired up and inspired.
      
      Maybe he did get a job offer. That would also explain how quiet it has been from Labour, as they run the numbers.
      
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      October 10, 2024 10:20am
  - RoboRob
    
    Very low I suspect 🙂
    
    I refuse to read Stuff, do they have a journalist you might consider right leaning or even centrist?
    
    Verity J is the epitome of left wing crazies. A white, educated (but still an air head) woman from a wealthy family who goes out and preaches against white privilege.
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:15am
- G152
  
  When the leftie media get shot of and destroy print TV and radio media they can always lie on street corners
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:38am
- pdm
  
  Gravel – Thank you for taking one for the team.
  
  I cannot ever recall reading an article by Verity Johnson. Obviously I am the better for that.
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:40am
- kiwikidsnz
  
  “Verity” – a good name for an opinionator…?
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:50am
  - Biscuit
    
    How bizarre.
    
    Verity is good enough to tell us that ‘nobody’ feels wealthy and sorted now.
    
    I checked with a few pals of mine who definitely ARE wealthy and sorted.
    
    But Verity hadn’t checked with them.
    
    So hardly ‘Nobody’, then.
    
    Methinks Verity interviewed her typewriter/PC monitor.
    
    Again.
    
    She clearly didn’t check too hard, either, with her leftist clique, either. Auntie Helen with all her properties and Jacinda with all her $200,000 speaking engagements and Grant with his multi-dollared Vice Chancellorship wouldn’t be complaining, I bet.
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:34am
    - RoboRob
      
      Lets not forget that Verity herself comes from a ‘monied’ family and is likely pretty comfortable too 🙂
      
      https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/verity-johnson-growing-up-as-a-kiwi-our-changing-childhoods/XSVVRV7JFVYA64D2AZ3GBU7K54/
      
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      October 10, 2024 10:18am
      - AitchW
        
        One can only imagine that she’ll grow up to be a lady who lunches and is deeply concerned about the poor children in Africa.
        
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        October 10, 2024 11:23am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  She only has to look at the new Morgan poll that has the coalition with 55% and the opposition on 41%, oh that’s mid no speaking right there
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:40am
  - peterwn
    
    Winston will have to watch it in 2026. If Chris Hipkins has not got a new job by then, his 5000 vote majority may disappear (I might be overly optimistic here).
    
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    October 10, 2024 4:55pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  This government hasn’t even been in for a year yet but I am already feeling wealthier due to the PAYE bands being adjusted for inflation for the first time in 13? years, and mortgage rates starting to reduce. If Labour was still in power, I don’t think any of this would have happened.
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:51am
  - AitchW
    
    No question. In fact they’d be busying themselves introducing new taxes.
    
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    October 10, 2024 11:25am
    - Bobba Fret
      
      I was really proud of my daughter who voted for the first time last October. Voted for Brooke Van Velden (which didn’t surprise me over Simon O’Connor in our electorate) but also party voted National. She is working her first job earning a few bucks more than minimum wage but felt Nats had the better policies.
      
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      October 10, 2024 1:43pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Labour made me more wealthier thanks to there as usual high interest rates has been delivered by Labour
    
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    October 10, 2024 2:45pm
- Scott
  
  I was talking to the owner of a cafe in Greytown the other day and he was happy about the new government. He’s middle NZ, he employs staff and he’s making a living and building a good business.
  
  Things aren’t easy right now but he doesn’t blame the govt and he’s happy that they are business friendly, much more so than the previous govt.
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:56am
- sirknz
  
  What was today’s really clumsy simile?
  
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  October 10, 2024 2:13pm
- rouppe
  
  Verity Johnson runs a burlesque place somewhere in Auckland I think. And wonders why she isn’t rolling in money.
  
  I actually don’t know what her credentials are to get a paid column gig… when she started it was mostly attacking men.
  
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  October 10, 2024 6:09pm
Steve Otto(North Shore)

Harris brags about sending money to Lebanon while abandoning North Carolina. May as well give the money straight to Iran.
Democrats don’t give a shit about Americans.

https://pjnewsletter.com/kamala-harris-trashed-for-colo/?
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October 10, 2024 8:24am
- Its only I
  
  Republicans…sorry, non MAGA republicans…have begged for this BS lies to stop. Those republicans on the ground are being hurt and many of them are REP voters. Its backfiring a bit like a full nappy trying to carry both lunch and breakfast…when Trump sits.
  
  Gender enhanced, elevators shoes Desantis is playing politics before the real storm has hit, lets see how that plays out long term.
  
  Your maga bubble media diet is not giving you any real facts.
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:08am
  - Matt Long
    
    Perhaps you’d like to share some genuine facts with sources, it sometimes adds more to a debate than just saying; you’re talking excrement.
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:48am
    - Hard Cheese
      
      So if it’s published on pjnewsletter.com it’s a “genuine fact” is it?
      
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      October 10, 2024 12:48pm
    - Its only I
      
      Ok, try looking at the news?
      oan and fox excluded…no, even republicans on fox are pushing back BECAUSE ITS HURTING THEIR VOTER BASE. There are a lot of things Trump could go after the Dems about outside of a compounded natural disaster.
      
      Its really not that hard.
      
      I don’t understand why beta maga trumpies rely on BS and lies, go after policy. Does that come with age based fear, like the fear of going outside and not being back
      at the home in time for the nurse to bring your 3pm cup of tea and bickie?
      
      Projection maybe?
      
      Republicans voted to defund FEMA. Fact
      
      FEMA have dedicated pots of money that are only to be used for what the label says on the lid. Fact
      
      The largest pot by far is disaster relief. Fact
      
      Trump raided the disaster relief pot to fund the detention centers in 2019. (only potus to do so). FACT
      
      Trump was selecting what states fema helped based on who voted for him…holding support for California, biffing paper towels into a crowd, etc. Fact
      
      Felon bone spurs beta male Trump is not republican, never was and never will be, he has pulled off the biggest fraud the US has ever seen.
      
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      October 10, 2024 1:01pm
  - RightNow
    
    Harris: “De Santis wouldn’t take my call, he’s playing politics and being selfish”
    
    De Santis: “I’ve spoken directly with the president and we have everything sorted and under control. The VP has no role in this matter, and hasn’t for her entire term, there’s no reason for her to call”
    
    Joe Biden: “I’ve spoken directly to De Santis and we have everything under control, I’ve even given him my personal mobile number.”
    
    I love that Joe is now actively undermining Kamala, he and Jill are getting their revenge!
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:59am
    - Its only I
      
      Also DeSantis to fox and friends during a 20 min rant about not having time (oh, really?) to talk to the VP…Yes I have talked to biden and we have everything we need, I don’t have time to talk to…oh shit I just biffed the boss one under the bus.
      
      Bwahaha Trump going on about shit not happening has just been debunked by Dis Sanctimonious. Mic drop
      
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNII1PbcMlE
      
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      October 10, 2024 6:30pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Tell me the ‘real facts.’
    
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    October 10, 2024 11:03am
    - Greenheart
      
      Your the contributor continually making hateful comments about opponents of Trump, These comments are fact free so how about you providing facts. Last night and today excrement has now become important to you. I suspect most contributors here are not impressed by such references.
      
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      October 10, 2024 11:43am
    - Hard Cheese
      
      Show me the intersection of pjnewsletter.com and “real facts” and I’ll show you the empty set.
      
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      October 10, 2024 12:56pm
      - Its only I
        
        Its not about facts Hard Cheese it about feelings.
        
        They seem to be angry people looking for a reason.
        
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        October 10, 2024 6:36pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      She spouted this crap yesterday, Biden is the president still and was talking to media about NC
      
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      October 10, 2024 2:49pm
      - Its only I
        
        If she didn’t call Trumps “mini me” MaGats would be claiming she is missing in action.
        
        No win there.
        
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        October 10, 2024 6:32pm
- virtualmark
  
  Steve,
  
  I think you’ll find this is money to Lebanon, not to Hezbollah.
  
  With Hezbollah so weakened at the moment there’s an opportunity for the West to strengthen the Lebanese government and military. It’s still a very low odds bet that you could make Lebanon a stable country, but it’s the best window to try that we’ve had in more than 40 years.
  
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  October 10, 2024 1:32pm
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    Lebanon – Hezbollah.
    What matters is the Dems will give money away but not to help Americans in Carolina.
    What is wrong with this picture?
    Dems want one thing and one thing only. The vote – then fuck them.
    
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    October 10, 2024 4:48pm
    - Ghost
      
      What’s wrong is your usual rubbish. Over $137 million so far for Helene. This will be a multi year recovery that will cost the federal government billions. This is the wrist part of politics. Twisting what is going on right now to try and get votes
      
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      October 10, 2024 5:10pm
      - Steve Otto(North Shore)
        
        Whatever you say Ghost.
        
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        October 10, 2024 5:16pm
      - Ghost
        
        Well we know we won’t get anything factual from you. Why don’t you tell us that this money is the initial funding, and that by the time this is over it will likely come close to the federal funding of Katrina which was around $120 billion.
        
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        October 10, 2024 5:25pm
      - Graeme Hall
        
        Are you sure? Time is of the essence in these situations – not what might happen a week or a year later. Do you think Hurricane Hellene footage of areas in the SE USA, showing houses in steep areas going down a river, house foundations undercut, roads undercut, power posts cutting floating roofs in half are fake? People speaking to camera about no assistance, no power, no food for 6 days is all made up too? You can see the damage about them. No sign of the Govt – only private helicopters locating people & neighbours helping each other & clearing roads of trees. In some areas they are now sending in cadaver teams composed of volunteers to find bodies. The FEMA head was complaining on camera that her staff were getting upset because those were affected by the hurricane said their $750 assistance, if you applied for & got it, was of little use when the stores were either closed or wiped out. That sort of footage does not seem like anyone there is twisting the truth to get votes.
        
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        October 10, 2024 9:34pm
      - Ghost
        
        I’d suggest you go look at how long the rebuild from Katrina took. Hint, try two decades.
        
        Has anyone said any footage is fake, stop making shit up.
        
        Hello, do you know what the advice is after a natural disaster, especially a hurricane in the USA. It’s to be prepared. To have at least 3 days food, water, medicines, etc. I guess when an earthquake hits nz you will expect the government to be there straight away to help you and to provide all the money the rebuild will take up front.
        
        Sigh, the $750 is for immediate emergency supplies for people, they will get far more than that. So far $344 million in federal disaster funding has been given out. And yes, both sides are twisting facts for votes, and idiots like Otto who have zero skin in the USA election is constantly pushing fake shit on this blog and when he gets called out for it, claims he doesn’t check things he just reposts
        
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        October 10, 2024 9:47pm
    - virtualmark
      
      Steve,
      
      There’s plenty of Federal, state and county money going to help people impacted by Hurricane Helene. You need to get off the Trump hamster wheel of crazy.
      
      And there’s a big difference between Lebanon and Hezbollah. Hezbollah is all-but a Shiite occupying army within Lebanon. Most Lebanese would love to be rid of them.
      
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      October 10, 2024 5:13pm
Damocles11

I am astonished by the lack of comprehensive media coverage and follow up of the shocking attack on the bus driver where he had his back broken. The assailants were described only as ‘fair dodgers’….what a way to downplay a vicious attack that left a man with grievous injuries. We are seeing a generalised downplaying and a virtual cover up on the prevalence of these attacks I believe.

https://www.indianweekender.co.nz/news/kiwi-indian-bus-driver-assaulted-in-auckland-with-skateboard

‘The incident, which occurred on August 31, has left Singh, a father of two, unable to walk without support due to a fractured lumbar spine. His doctor estimates it could take up to three months for him to recover.
“They hit me with a skateboard, and I fell to the ground. Then they all started kicking me and attacking with the skateboard,” Singh said.’
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October 10, 2024 8:27am
NeverMindTheBollocks

Shell Lane (The Terrace) bike rack report:

At 8.30am: null bikes once more.

A cool, damp day in the Capital too – not too bad for biking.
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October 10, 2024 8:30am
- AitchW
  
  One wonders why the media aren’t picking up this story. ///
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:11am
- mandk
  
  Thanks NMTB.
  
  Perhaps we could have reports of sightings of bikes on those racks that were fitted onto the front of Wellington buses many (7 or 8) years ago, at great expense to the tax/rate payer.
  
  In all my years living and working in Wellington, I don’t recall seeing the racks used more than 3 or 4 times.
  
  The cost per use must be in the $’000s.
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:24am
  - G152
    
    They were once used to carry prams
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:42am
  - Groggy
    
    depends on the route, going up Brooklyn Hill there is always someone using them. The Cycle lane …. barely a soul.
    
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    October 10, 2024 2:23pm
    - rouppe
      
      That’s clever. Downhill to work, bus back, half the commuting costs
      
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      October 10, 2024 6:05pm
- Biscuit
  
  NMTB, it’s another typically-fine day here in Upper Hutt.
  
  Am off to the Cake Tin tomorrow night for the NPC Quarterfinal.
  
  I was thinking of taking my bike but I am afeared that all the bike racks will have been taken up.
  
  Maybe the train, eh? Or even the c-a-r swear word that Tory and her pals so detest!
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:47am
  - mandk
    
    When I go to a WPX game, I drive from Hutt Superior to Petone Station and then jump on a train or bus to Wellington Station.
    
    The parking at Petone is free, and so is the train or bus because I’m a senior.
    
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    October 10, 2024 2:54pm
    - MCōs
      
      Right back at the start of that stadium we had season tickets.
      I caught the train home to Ngaio and was walking through the front door 45min after the final whistle
      Those were the days when Christian Cullen and the boys filled the stadium when the Hurricanes played.
      Pity they never won many games
      
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      October 10, 2024 7:57pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Fear not, Bikkie. You shall have null trouble finding a vacant spot in this particular rack.
    
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    October 10, 2024 8:18pm
Benedict Yu

For those who have not lived in Wellington, Bordeaux Bakery is a large, successful French style bakery in Thorndon Quay. It has been there for 30 years.

It is now dead because 12 months of roadworks to build cycleways and a bus lane removed all the car parks. This area is not an area with much foot traffic. Probably 80 percent of the customers would travel there by car. Maybe more.

So sales are down by 70 percent and the business is dead.

The Mayor said that it was “sad”. However the endless road works and removing the car parks were necessary to move the city to “a brighter future”.

“We are a city in transition working toward a brighter future, while fast tracking work that has been under-invested in the past.”

“Every city goes through this, and it is always difficult, but our community can work through this.”

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350444415/mayor-reacts-yet-another-wellington-cafe-closure-city-grapples-roadworks

She reminds me of Kamala Harris. 😫

Eventually Wellington will be bankrupt, with cyclists riding past boarded up vacant buildings. The Mayor is literally saying that these businesses need to be destroyed to enable “a brighter future”. It is a mindset normally associated with historical despots.
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October 10, 2024 8:31am
- gravedodger
  
  As for South Viet Nam With US troops trying to stem the tide from Ho Chi Min.
  “We had to destroy the village to save it” LoL
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:36am
  - kowtow
    
    Ho Chi Minh..
    
    We’ll destroy whole countries to save the politbureau.
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:29am
- youcanthandlethetruth
  
  The quality of their products (and Pandoro’s) was really good. Quite sad.
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:40am
- G152
  
  Ever counted the number of cyclists using these cycleways ??????
  Its just greens playing games and will turn towns into slums
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:41am
  - kowtow
    
    Slums ?
    
    I think Greens want our cities to look like their favourite piece of real estate , Gaza .
    
    A barren waste .
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:31am
  - Oskar
    
    According to this NZ Herald article – https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellington-city-council-officers-recommend-borrowing-to-fund-controversial-thorndon-quay-raised-pedestrian-crossings/TASKLTB3UVCWVG7FLR5OF4X4OM/
    
    Thorndon Quay is “one of the most important commuter routes” in the city, with approximately 10,000 people travelling the route by bus, 1300 by bike, and 9000 by car on weekdays.”
    
    The article does not say whether those are one way or return journeys. If it counts those going too and from work its around 650 cyclists per day. The Council is counting on an increase in bike users once the Wellington-Lower Hutt cycleway is completed.
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:07am
- cmm
  
  Just think of all the grain and sugar that bakery wasted making bread and other baked goods.
  It could have been used to make more alcohol. That’s the brighter future.
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:48am
- AitchW
  
  BY, Wellington, or at least WCC, is already in intellectual bankruptcy.
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:51am
- Benedict Yu
  
  I am not anti cyclist ot anti cycleways up to a point. However, Thorndon Quay is unusual for Wellington. It is a wide, safe flat road. Lined with successful businesses that are located there specifically because their customers travel there by car.
  
  The mayor is celebrating turning a wide, safe road into a narrow dangerous road lined with broken businesses.
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:54am
  - pdm
    
    From afar it seems to be the only talent she has BY.
    
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    October 10, 2024 8:57am
    - igm
      
      Isn’t she adept at doing runners from cafes when it comes time to pay?
      Must have a hatred of food retailers.
      
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      October 10, 2024 10:29am
  - Taieri
    
    It is a wide, safe flat road.
    ————
    
    The logical solution would be to make the footpath a bit wider and use it as a shared pedestrian/cycling path. This way it would not impede the normal traffic. And not just at the Thorndon Quay. But, it would be too easy I suspect…
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:13am
    - imalwaysright
      
      The solution is to put up a sign saying:
      
      “Cyclists beware of Traffic”
      
      (Even that is overkill)
      
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      October 10, 2024 10:07am
  - MCōs
    
    I wonder who their clientele was.
    It’s a windswept street with no protection from the weather. It’s not a residential area. There’s some home improvement shops and a couple of tyres shops along there.
    It’s also the main route for cyclists from the north suburbs and the Hutt valley, one of whom was myself for years.
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:56am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      Seriously? Back in the day I would pop in on a Sunday. The place was packed with folk, including families and children. All of whom travelled there by car and parked on the street.
      
      There was no wind inside the bakery.
      
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      October 10, 2024 10:34am
    - RightNow
      
      +1 for using the correct tense regarding their clientele.
      
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      October 10, 2024 11:02am
    - rouppe
      
      It is used by tens of thousands more vehicular traffic than cyclist or foot traffic.
      
      The changes will have a disproportionate effect on that vehicular traffic.
      
      Just like the raised crossings that now blight every entrance into Papakowhai meaning daily thousands of people have to now go over speed bumps so that half a dozen people a day don’t have to go over bumps while crossing roads.
      
      It is mentally retarded thinking
      
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      October 10, 2024 5:14pm
      - MCōs
        
        FYI
        On average 9,200 vehicles use Thorndon Quay daily, which is less than Ottawa Rd, the main road through Ngaio for example.
        Here’s the info from the WCC. Doesn’t have separate figures for bikes
        https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiY2JiZjUzNjUtMjU5ZC00MjViLTkyOTItOWYzZmZkODVmZjZhIiwidCI6ImYxODdhZDA3LTRmNzAtNGQ3MS05YTgwLWRmYjAxOTE1NzhhZSJ9
        
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        October 10, 2024 8:13pm
  - Warren Murray
    
    It’s one of the finest examples of fixing something that wasn’t broken.
    
    Prior to this TQ had minimal congestion and was wide enough for motorists and cyclists to travel, efficiently, easily and safely, and offered good parking. Now, after committing $50 million, none of those apply. Worse, as the urgent pipe repairs haven’t been actioned, more roadworks are inevitable.
    
    I’m mad that my rates are paying for this; but I’m incandescent with rage that NZTA funding has enabled the Council to do it. Were it not for the NZTA subsidy, it’s likely the project wouldn’t have commenced.
    
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    October 10, 2024 12:33pm
  - virtualmark
    
    Tory is only going to have any sort of concern if Havana Bar is forced to close down.
    
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    October 10, 2024 1:35pm
- Steve Otto(North Shore)
  
  Public sector job cuts are to blame? The business has been there 30 years!
  God that mayor talks some shit!
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:14am
  - greybeard
    
    Agreed: the bakery is nowhere near any public sector offices as far as I know.
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:17am
  - rouppe
    
    That’s her answer to everything that’s failing in her city.
    
    Closes her eyes, covers her ears and instead of “la la la la la” it’s “Public sector job cuts Public sector job cuts Public sector job cuts Public sector job cuts”
    
    Tory Whanau is to Wellington what Jacinda Ardern was to New Zealand. A disaster.
    
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    October 10, 2024 5:17pm
- Rich Prick
  
  Take a look at the chaos in the Island Bay shopping area, virtually all car parks now gone simply to provide a playground for the lycra fanciers.
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:23am
- Anthony Melchett
  
  You should see the posts about thus from the rabid lefties.
  
  They are happy it’s closing down and say it’s owners deserve it because they actually wanted staff to work.
  
  You can hardly drive down Thorndon quay now, a once wide road with csrparks reduced to narrow lanes, no parks and permanent cones everywhere.
  
  If somehow you needed an angle to want the mayor removed, she should be sacked for this alone
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:33am
  - AitchW
    
    I really despise that lefty attitude that anyone successful must have made their money by exploiting the poor downtrodden working man.
    If they tried to understand the risks business owners take, and the sacrifices they make their tiny little heads would explode.
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:20am
  - Steve Otto(North Shore)
    
    “owners deserve it because they actually wanted staff to work.”
    How rude.
    
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    October 10, 2024 11:16am
- Biscuit
  
  Benedict, you may have overstated things.
  
  More likely ‘one cyclist’ than ‘cyclists’, heh.
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:48am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    Really? When I lived in Wellington, Thorndon Quay was crowded with cyclists heading into Wellington. At least hundreds, probably a couple of thousand in fine weather. I know because I drove along Thorndon Quay every morning and evening.
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:53am
    - Biscuit
      
      Wow, I had no idea.
      
      Where’d they all go?
      
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      October 10, 2024 9:59am
      - MCōs
        
        In my case I worked further along Thorndon Quay.
        
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        October 10, 2024 10:06am
      - rouppe
        
        Parliament, reserve bank, mbie all that end of town
        
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        October 10, 2024 6:03pm
- alex Masterley
  
  Green economics at play.
  The peasant scenes in the classic Mony Python and the Holy Grail show the outcome of such economic thinking.
  They are as propehtic as certain scenes in the “Life of Brian” (and I am not thinking of Biggus Dickus”.
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:55am
- cas
  
  I was driving through Ohope the other day and the cycle lane there amounts to a couple of white lines painted all the way down the road with the symbol of a cyclist from time to time. It didn’t look too expensive ( though there was no-one using it).
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:55am
- Paulus
  
  By Law a City Council can never be bankrupt as the Ratepayer always pays !
  
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  October 10, 2024 10:41am
  - Warren Murray
    
    Kaipara gave it a pretty good shot
    
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    October 10, 2024 12:34pm
- The Feed
  
  There will be nowhere left worth riding a bike to.
  
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  October 10, 2024 10:51am
imalwaysright

This raises some questions about the US response to the hurricanes. Has FEMA been politicised , have the hurricanes been manipulated?
https://youtu.be/YvYT7NLVYCU?si=UWgwrexoZNDI3IUD
Here is the US govt website mentioned that explains their research into manipulating the weather.
https://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hurricane_blog/70th-anniversary-of-the-first-hurricane-seeding-experiment/
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October 10, 2024 8:36am
- Benedict Yu
  
  You think that the USA government is deliberately making the hurricanes worse? That seems far fetched.
  
  https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/false-rumor-says-hurricane-milton-is-product-weather-control-2024-10-09/
  
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  October 10, 2024 9:55am
  - imalwaysright
    
    I’m asking if its possible.
    As usual you jump straight to a conclusion and post a link to a sketchy site that agrees with you.
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:30am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      No its not possible. I can post lots of other links. 🙂
      
      Also, I don’t think I am the Kiwiblog champion of linking to dodgy sites. 🙂
      
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      October 10, 2024 12:23pm
      - RightNow
        
        You should be more diligent in your research. The technology absolutely exists.
        
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        October 10, 2024 1:05pm
  - RightNow
    
    Seems so far fetched anyone espousing it would be called a conspiracy theorist.
    However, the technology most certainly exists:
    https://patents.google.com/patent/US20030085296A1/en
    
    https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Science/story?id=8055781&page=1
    
    I’m not saying it has been used in this instance, just that it is not out of the realm of possibility.
    
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    October 10, 2024 11:08am
    - Hard Cheese
      
      LOL
      
      2001-11-02 Application filed by Individual
      2001-11-02 Priority to US09/985,284
      2003-05-08 Publication of US20030085296A1
      Status Abandoned
      
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      October 10, 2024 4:50pm
- NothingLeft
  
  As a professional thermodynamicist, with expertise in evaporative/condensation and convective processes driving hurricanes (skew T log p etc) thoughts of weather control is completely loopy bullshit.
  
  Hurricanes are driven by Terrawatt energy flows. Peripheral low humidity air drawn across warm ocean surface lifting and evaporating warm water spray from accumulated seasonal solar heating and achieving near 100% humidity and warm temps to drive powerful free-vortex convective upwellings on scale of 10’s of km. That’s not something humans can influence.
  
  If you want to trigger or halt hurricanes you need to warm or cool ocean across millions of square km, or find a way to direct enormous quantities of dry air to an area of warmer ocean.
  
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  October 10, 2024 2:31pm
  - Burtland
    
    weve been told for years now that driving your car affects long term weather
    – was this loopy BS too?
    
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    October 10, 2024 9:06pm
cmm

“Eventually Wellington will be bankrupt”

I would have thought it is already bankrupt. OK, maybe not bankrupt because it can still raise more debt, but is at least broke.

It certainly is past fixing. It can’t afford to fixing the leaking pipes. No wonder they’re just trying to strip as much cash as they can and run.
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October 10, 2024 8:41am
- Jack5
  
  Interesting who is ultimately liable for an NZ city or town’s debts.
  
  The receiver for City of Wellington might come after ratepayers. Aren’t they liable, joint and severally? If most can’t pay would Bob Jones have to foot the lot?
  
  The Crown seems to be exempt from rates. Would that let the Government off?
  
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  October 10, 2024 12:54pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  Is Tory even going to try and get re-elected as mayor next time? Or is she off to the Green party. Surely Wellingtonians would not vote for her again.
  
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  October 10, 2024 1:48pm
G the giant from Dunedin

Great to see an increased support for the coalition in the new Morgan poll, coalition up 2 seats from election night, and Labour hammered down to 23%
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October 10, 2024 8:44am
- Biscuit
  
  Mmmm, G.
  
  To save you good folk the bother of hunting it up – you sure as Hell won’t see much mention of it in Te Media – I summarise:
  
  ‘Roy Morgan’s New Zealand Poll for September 2024 shows support for the National-led Government (National, ACT & NZ First) has increased again, up 2% points to 55%, increasing its lead over the Labour-Greens-Maori Party Parliamentary Opposition on 41% (down 2% points).
  
  For the National-led Government support for National increased 1.5% points to 37.5% – their highest level of support for six months since March 2024, support for ACT was up 0.5% points to 10% and support for NZ First was unchanged at 7.5%.
  
  For the Parliamentary Opposition, support for Labour was down 3.5% points to 23%, support for the Greens was up 1% point to 14% and support for the Maori Party up 0.5% points to 4%.
  
  A further 4% (unchanged) of electors supported a minor party outside Parliament. This includes 2.5% (unchanged) who support The Opportunities Party and a further 1.5% (unchanged) who support other minor parties including the New Conservatives, NewZeal, NZ Outdoors, the Freedom Party and the Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party.’
  
  No idea why but I feel in SUCH a good mood I might buy a couple of Danishes up town shortly and bring ’em back for my loving partner to watch me scoff both!
  
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  October 10, 2024 10:09am
  - Paulus
    
    After reading this, with my coffee this morning, I celebrated with an Apple Cream Donut – she took half !
    
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    October 10, 2024 10:46am
  - cmm
    
    The biggest concern out of all that is the support for Maori Party increasing.
    
    Only disaffected activist types vote for the Maori Party.
    An increase of 0.5% to 4% means that their numbers have swelled by 14% since the election. That is a massive increase!
    
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    October 10, 2024 11:16am
    - Swifty
      
      When Labour are down, the Greens and TPM are up.
      
      It won’t last forever.
      
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      October 10, 2024 11:42am
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        But the combined opposition is 41%, that we not change much
        
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        October 10, 2024 2:52pm
    - BananaLlama
      
      Actually, good news, we want TMP to be as close to 5% as possible,
      
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      October 10, 2024 1:26pm
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        Agreed, if TPM get 5% then there will be no over hang, at present they have 3 extra seats because of getting 2% at election time and won 5 Māori seats
        
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        October 10, 2024 2:54pm
    - Bobba Fret
      
      Yes I reckon it will be disolussioned Labour voters who cant bring themselves to vote National, so turn to TPM and Greens.
      
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      October 10, 2024 2:01pm
    - MCōs
      
      I would suggest the Māori Party will continue to climb
      There’s an awful lot of rhetoric disparaging to Māori around at the moment. Some people may not see it that way, but they’re never going to be influential in the Māori Party polling numbers.
      
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      October 10, 2024 2:24pm
- BananaLlama
  
  They really are getting hammered wont be long until they parachute Jacinda back in.
  
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  October 10, 2024 1:25pm
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    She knows she is hated
    
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    October 10, 2024 2:55pm
AitchW

I watched 5 minutes of TV1 news last night (yes, I know) to see if there was any indication of what my mortgage rate might be when I fix again in December.
The young female reported interviewing Nicola Willis tried to get Wilis to agree that the only reason for the drop in the OCR was the government’s poor handling of the economy. At that point I turned it off. That had to be the most blatantly biased reporting I’ve seen for a very long time. Why is TVNZ hiring children to report on grown up events? Why do their reporters so very uncritically support the Labour/Green/Maori bloc?
Just as bad was the Herald’s Claire Trevett on Newstalk ZB just before 5pm. She was working herself into a lather about the government giving 24 million to Mike King’s organisation for youth mental health. Perhas I shouldn’t have been surprised given that Jack Tame was filling in for HDPA. She wouldn’t have let Trevett get away with her diatribe unchallenged.
What I find truly and deeply depressing is that I can see no reason why the media would ever change their colours and report objectively on anything. Luxon could find a cure for cancer and the common cold and the media would screech that he was putting nurses and doctors out of work.
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October 10, 2024 8:49am
- artemisia
  
  Claire Trevett on Newstalk ZB yesterday. Lots of umms. Definitely a voice for print.
  
  24 0
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  October 10, 2024 9:16am
  - Paulus
    
    Similarly lots of umms and ahs this morning on Mike FM with CEO of ANZ Bank needs interview training perhaps.
    Not sure exactly what she said that had any real meaning, asuming Australia had not told her what to do yet !
    
    5 0
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    October 10, 2024 10:49am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  They are utterly deluded, spouting on you put the country into recession when the end of 23 seen the 2 quarters that makes up a recession were under labour
  
  13 0
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  October 10, 2024 9:33am
- kowtow
  
  If you want to learn anything then tv1 and much of te legacy meedia is worse than a waste of time , cos it’s so negative for your mental health.
  
  For business views , try interest.co.nz .
  
  16 1
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  October 10, 2024 9:35am
- MCōs
  
  Ring the bank
  Some TV reporter on not much more than minimum wage ain’t going to know
  
  9 2
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  October 10, 2024 10:32am
  - cmm
    
    “Some TV reporter on not much more than minimum wage”
    
    They might be deserving nothing more than minimum wage, but they certainly get a lot more than that.
    
    10 1
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    October 10, 2024 11:11am
    - MCōs
      
      The people the front the news each night on tv might make big bucks, but the ever changing array of young reporters on site not a lot.
      
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      October 10, 2024 5:34pm
Rusty

Can someone correct me on a story Three News/ Stuff ran last night?

They quoted from journo Bob Woodward’s new book that Donald Trump called PM Netanyahu a F….

But what I have found out is that Biden said that in Woodward’s book.

Anyone else heard anything about this?
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October 10, 2024 9:37am
- RoboRob
  
  I have heard that Biden call Netanyahu a F. There was no love lost between the two of them (Obama and N). When Trump came in the relationship massively improved and I believe Netanyahu described Trump as the best friend of Isreal. I am 100% sure Stuff is either wrong or intentionally misleading people here. I suspect just wrong, and they couldn’t believe Obama would say that so they credited it to Trump.
  
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  October 10, 2024 10:27am
- cmm
  
  WIll Stuff print a retraction?
  
  5 0
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  October 10, 2024 11:12am
- NothingLeft
  
  Tucker Carlson on Woodward as a possible intelligence operative:
  
  “Who exactly was Bob Woodward? Well, he wasn’t a journalist,” Carlson continued. “Bob Woodward had no background whatsoever in the news business. Instead, Bob Woodward came directly from the classified areas of the federal government. Shortly before Watergate, Woodward was a naval officer at the Pentagon.”
  
  4 2
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  October 10, 2024 11:22am
  - MCōs
    
    Tucker Carlson is far more likely to be an intelligence operative in the pay of the KGB
    Watergate was more than fifty years ago
    Carlson was fawning all over Putin earlier this year
    
    2 8
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    October 10, 2024 1:40pm
    - NothingLeft
      
      ‘fawning’.. bullshit. He interviewed him, and let the evil prick speak his mind. It’s not possible to interrogate dictators in their lairs.
      
      Not a bad thing to let the world hear Putin’s opinions on war with Ukraine, just to paint a clearer picture of what we’re up against.
      
      4 1
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      October 10, 2024 2:14pm
- virtualmark
  
  Netanyahu isn’t trusted, yet alone loved, in DC.
  
  Or in Israel too for that matter.
  
  Somewhat like Trump he sees leadership of the country as a “get out of jail” card. And he sees prolonging the conflicts with Hamas and Hezbollah as a “wag the dog” strategy to boost his waning support.
  
  I support what Israel’s done in the last twelve months to crush Hamas and Hezbollah. But let’s not be blind to the reality that it serves Netanyahu’s personal objectives as well as Israel’s strategic ones.
  
  (Balancing this … DC isn’t trusted in Israel either. The Israelis rightly believe that if they let the US in on any of their secrets someone in DC blabs it to the media within a few days. Witness Trump outing a Mossad spy in Syria back in 2017, and the Biden admin talking about possible targets in Iran in just the last 24 hours)
  
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  October 10, 2024 1:43pm
Paulus

After all the media crap on Radio and TV it is that the best economic analysis that can be had, in is actually in the Herald by Jenee Tabshraenry, who is one of the few professionals who knows what she is talking about in such financial matters.
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October 10, 2024 10:55am
- NothingLeft
  
  Tabshraenry used to work at economics-focused interest.co.nz.
  
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  October 10, 2024 2:08pm
David Garrett

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350446384/killer-rnz-journalist-phillip-cottrell-released-despite-still-being-high-risk

Sadly this dangerous POS is more likely than not to kill again sooner rather than later. I remember the case very well – I wondered at the t ime what the lefties at RNZ would think about harsh punishments given one of their own was a victim of homicidal violence.
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October 10, 2024 12:04pm
Sparrow

This is a warning to all Classic car owners and lovers. This could be coming to a town near you. Hundreds of Classic cars in London have been crushed as owners would not or could not pay a daily surcharge on them introduced by the Mayor. I can think of one NZ Mayor and city who would rejoice at implementing such a scheme. BE WARNED. I have space alongside my Classic Morris Mini Cooper if you need to save your Classic from the possible ravages of these heathens. Have spanners at the ready.
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October 10, 2024 12:36pm
- MCōs
  
  Nothing to do with what the local authorities think here.
  In NZ you can’t park a car on the street if it doesn’t have a current wof, so I understand .
  By the sounds in London that includes a strict emission test.
  Half the cars on our streets are probably “classic” cars only we call them “pieces of shit”
  Depends on your point of view
  
  2 6
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  October 10, 2024 1:27pm
  - Sparrow
    
    What a stupid comment. I would suggest classic car owners keep their cars in pristine condition more than modern cars with all their fancy electrics which go wrong and cost a fortune to fix.
    
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    October 10, 2024 1:32pm
    - MCōs
      
      This web site has two definitions
      We think it’s a vehicle that’s 20 years old or older with some historic interest that makes it worth collecting, preserving or restoring.
      And
      Classic cars in NZ encompass virtually all 20+ years old vehicles that are in relatively stock form
      In other words one person’s treasure is another person’s eyesore
      https://www.classiccover.co.nz/classic/#:~:text=Classics%20encompass%20virtually%20all%2020,protect%20your%20pride%20and%20joy.
      
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      October 10, 2024 5:25pm
- virtualmark
  
  ?
  
  The daily surcharge is the ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) which now covers basically all of inner London. If you have a vehicle that doesn’t meet the low emissions criteria then you’re charged GBP12.50 every day it’s used on the road in the ULEZ zone.
  
  You also have VED (Vehicle Excise Duty, basically their registration charge) that rises with increasing emissions too. So it starts getting expensive very fast if your car isn’t “clean”.
  
  *But* all vehicles built before 1973 are exempt from ULEZ, and those built after 1973 but that are over 40 years old are also basically exempt too. And vehicles over 40 years old basically pay no road tax.
  
  So not sure why people would be crushing hundreds of classic cars?
  
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  October 10, 2024 1:50pm
- Jake Dee
  
  Why would the owner of a classic car allow them to be crushed when they could just be sold? or the local council for that matter?
  
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  October 10, 2024 6:29pm
Jack5

The arcane subject of crypto encryption pops up occasionally on Kiwiblog, so …

Quantum computers eventually will be able to break present encryption systems, and the estimate is that they will do that by 2035, the Wall Street Journal says today.

Quantum computers use quantum bits (“qubits”), which represent and store information in both 0’s and 1’s simultaneously.

IBM’s Director of Research, Dario Gil, says the corporation expects to deliver a “fault tolerant, error-corrected” quantum computer system by 2029. This will be able to correct errors caused by interference including sound, microwaves, or temperature fluctuations.

However, IBM says that in the meantime it has built a “quantum-safe” system for its latest z16 mainframe computers. This uses two of the three new algorithms for post-quantum encryption published by America’s National Institute of Standards and Technology.
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October 10, 2024 1:38pm
Chuck Bird

I hear something about men who claim to be women wanting to play against real women. Chris Bishop is involved. It sounds like government funding may be withheld.

Does anyone know anything more about this?
2 1
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October 10, 2024 2:00pm
- Ghost
  
  Chris asked for sport no to review transgender yesterday
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/sport-and-recreation-minister-chris-bishop-asked-sport-nz-to-review-update-transgender-inclusion-principles/ZZTBC6SS5RFDJDLQLMMG44L6BM/
  
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  October 10, 2024 2:38pm
  - mandk
    
    The Herald article includes the quote that “A recent report from a UN expert acknowledges that all people – including trans and non-binary people – have the right to participate in sport”
    
    I don’t think anyone is denying them this right. Just as long as they play in categories that align with their biological gender.
    
    7 1
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    October 10, 2024 3:04pm
  - Ponderer
    
    We need to allow transgender participation at the highest level in womans rugby, netball and womans cricket as we haven’t won anything in any of those sports in living memory !!!
    All 3 codes seem to be losing at almost every opportunity (and by record scores)!
    
    2 0
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    October 10, 2024 4:35pm
    - Burtland
      
      if our mens teams identified as women they might have more success too
      
      1 0
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      October 10, 2024 9:22pm
Chris Nisbet

NZ Herald headline:

Audrey Young: Govt wasting time and money on pointless election promises

And her backup headline if the Govt didn’t deliver on its promises:

Audrey Young: Govt breaks its election promises

Crikey though, imagine getting a bit annoyed that the govt is doing what it promised to do.
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October 10, 2024 2:04pm
Swifty

I very much hope there is no public money going into this. If there is I suggest that it would be a scandalous waste of scarce resources given the other priorities we have as a nation.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/philip-polkinghorne-trial-new-drama-series-the-mysterious-death-of-pauline-hanna-is-in-development/TZ26PJ6QANFJHEPMBTKRDUVMZ4/
4 0
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October 10, 2024 2:15pm
- mandk
  
  It will probably be eligible for a NZ Screen Production Rebate.
  
  I think the rebate for domestic productions is equivalent to 40% of eligible production expenditure.
  
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  October 10, 2024 5:59pm
Sparrow

Congratulations to our gutsy Defence Minister Judith Collins. She has just sent a salvo across the bows of the Armchair Admiral’s. Some inhabit this blog.
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October 10, 2024 3:51pm
- BananaLlama
  
  Note that she didn’t say for the armchair activists to stop praising the captain though, hollow words.
  
  3 1
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  October 10, 2024 4:31pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  Some of the Armchair Admirals on this blog, like me, actually have seagoing and command experience. Mine includes operating in the Cook Islands and working cargo close in to reefs and also Dynamically Positioned Vessels off oil rigs.
  
  Also 10 years as Chief Officer (2nd in command) aboard:
  
  Large Conventional Reefer vessel with 60 tonne heavy lift gear.
  
  RoRo vessel
  
  Container Vessel to WCNA
  
  Container vessel NZ/PNG/Aus/NZ
  
  extensive experience in dry docking these vessels.
  
  7 1
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  October 10, 2024 4:36pm
  - Taieri
    
    Same here, although not as Master but as Chief Engineer for 36 years. 5o years in total in the industry on 38 vessels trading worldwide, including 17 years on DP2 vessels.
    
    7 0
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    October 10, 2024 6:19pm
    - kevn
      
      fighting and Taieri… Both top nautical knowledge to be sure. Experience tells you what about the debacle? Be interesting to hear from Master Mariner as well.
      
      2 0
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      October 10, 2024 6:37pm
  - Damocles11
    
    How many ships sunk under your command?
    
    0 2
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    October 10, 2024 7:52pm
    - fightingtemeraire
      
      NONE
      
      3 0
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      October 10, 2024 8:08pm
- kowtow
  
  Great , as Collins knows best then there’s no need for an expensive , time and resource wasting court of enquiry.
  
  What is not on is idiots abusing military personnel in the streets ( or anyone else for that matter)
  
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  October 10, 2024 5:07pm
- Jake Dee
  
  Narrative control, get out in front of a troublesome story early and frame it in a way that reduces your overall risk.
  The higher ups in the Beehive and Navy will already have a pretty good idea about what went wrong and it wasn’t North Korean midget submarines or a thunderbolt from Zeus. The formal inquiry will just get all the evidence together and cross the t’s and dot the i’s.
  If Collins is confident that Captain Grey is in the clear then there is very little reason to make this statement.
  Who is saying that Grey’s gender CAUSED the sinking? However if it was her incompetence and if her promotion is even partly due to her gender and sexual preferences then we are at least halfway there.
  
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  October 10, 2024 6:40pm
Ghost

Guess she reads kiwiblog…..

Defence Minister Judith Collins has denounced the “deeply concerning, mysoginistic narrative” that has developed around the sinking of the HMNZS Manawanui.

Collins said a group of “armchair admirals” had conspired to blame the incident on the ship’s captain, Commanding Officer Commander Yvonne Gray, because she is a woman.

“The one thing that we already know did not cause [the ship’s sinking] was the gender of the ship’s captain,” Collins said.

Article
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October 10, 2024 4:01pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  I agree that the captain may not have been able to save the ship.
  
  I would like to know what efforts were made to save the ship such as dropping an anchor.
  
  In the end, irregardless of the reasons the captain has to wear the consequences whether female or male.
  
  In the USA navy I believe that the captain of an aircraft carrier lose their job even if an airplane crashes on landing. Yes, that’s rough but ensures that captains do everything possible to prevent such accidents.
  
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  October 10, 2024 7:03pm
  - Ghost
    
    Captain will only lose their command if the plane crash was due to negligence.
    
    1 1
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    October 10, 2024 7:58pm
    - Jack5
      
      Defence Minister Collins rips into Internet “armchair admirals” in the 25:20sec video linked to below. Collins takes on the internet from about 1:20 to about 4:00, and again at 16:40.
      
      She talks of women in uniform being abused in the street.
      
      The defence chief, Rear Admiral Golding announced the inquiry board: Commodore Melissa Ross (president); Captain Andrew Mahoney’ Group Captain John McWilliam, from the RNZAF; and Captain Dean Battilana, Royal Australian Navy.
      
      Counsel assisting the COI will be Commander Jonathan Rowe, a barrister.
      
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Y8SliuTCio&ab_channel=RNZ
      
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      October 10, 2024 8:26pm
      - Jack5
        
        Elaborating on Internet critics, Collins singled out a Melbourne truck driver.
        
        I’ve found the former and current seafarers who post on Kiwiblog to be responsible and informative. Regardless, let open discussion flourish.
        
        Also, the “COI” mentioned is the court of inquiry.
        
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        October 10, 2024 8:43pm
  - AitchW
    
    Are you aware that simply dropping the anchor doesn’t stop a ship in its tracks? The anchor has to hit the seabed then drag for a while till it digs in. Then there’s a length of chain that lies on the seabed otherwise the anchor will simply pull out of the sand.
    
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    October 10, 2024 8:24pm
Ghost

Wellington City Council has overturned a previous decision to sell its 34% share in the city’s international airport.

Councillors voted nine to seven in favour of stopping the move at a meeting this afternoon.

Article
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October 10, 2024 5:00pm
- Eastlander
  
  Good news and all the better for the consternation of the ‘treaty partners’. Let it be the beginning of the end for local government as we know it.
  
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  October 10, 2024 5:21pm
  - Damocles11
    
    How is that ‘good news’ that the idiots didn’t sell those shares?
    
    0 0
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    October 10, 2024 6:42pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Because Tory would piss the proceeds up against the wall
      
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      October 10, 2024 8:47pm
- greybeard
  
  Councillors Ben McNulty, Nureddin Abdurahman, Diane Calvert, Ray Chung, Tony Randle, Nicola Young, Iona Pannett, Teri O’Neill and Nīkau Wi Neera voted against the sale: thank you all these people.
  If the shares had been sold the proceeds would have surely been wasted on Green-Labour shit, in very short order.
  
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  October 10, 2024 6:50pm
  - SPC
    
    No, they wanted to put the money in a more diverse Reserve Fund, as a better risk management approach.
    
    0 1
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    October 10, 2024 7:03pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    I wouldn’t describe Councillors Iona Pannett, Teri O’Neill and Nīkau Wi Neera as fiscally responsible.
    
    0 0
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    October 10, 2024 8:51pm
- SPC
  
  There goes the reputation of Diane Calvert, Ray Chung, Tony Randle, Nicola Young as competent, unless they are playing some long game to discredit the council, rather than do their jobs.
  
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  October 10, 2024 7:08pm
  - Galzy
    
    Absolute nonsense. The current council are spending like drunken sailors. There is little faith that the funds from the sale wouldn’t of been spanked on low quality pet green/labour projects. At least this will result on some fiscal restraint.
    
    1 0
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    October 10, 2024 8:41pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Nope. It’s true that the airport share money would be better invested more widely; but under Mayor Whanau the money would be squandered on Green priorities. You know, like bike racks that cost $580k that no one uses. So, better to hang on to that lumpy asset until the adults are voted back into power.
    
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    October 10, 2024 8:50pm
Damocles11

Our national debt is $175 Billion and our Debt to GDP ratio is 42.5%….this is far, far worse than I expected or we were given to understand in the run up to the election. Revenue is also UP, by 9%…..but spending is up 11%. One Ewes led with social agencies screaming about funding cuts. Things are very, very bad in the Socialist Banana Republic of Aotearoa, where spending and waste are out of control and it seems that nothing can be done. Labour increased annual government spending by a staggering 80% over its time in government. This is looting on a massive scale and something has to be done, but it appears it won’t be.
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October 10, 2024 6:15pm
- MCōs
  
  One news led with the hurricane in Florida
  
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  October 10, 2024 8:29pm

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