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December 24, 2024 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 24 December 2024

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General Debate

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Biscuit

Another example of our compassionate media at work. NOT…

The young lady missing for 40-odd hours here in Upper Hutt was found yesterday, quite a bit worse for wear and facing weeks in hospital but, blessedly, essentially well…

ONE News last night had pictures. As did STUFF and, doubtless, the Herald…

Something like a dozen rescue folk were shown carrying her out of the rough terrain involved.
But they were preceded by a gaggle of other folk all hoisting blue tarpaulins to prevent ghoulish shots of her being taken as they headed ambulance-wards.

You’d THINK that the TV camerafolk involved would have thought, in a paraphrasing of tedious John Campbell-speak, ‘Oooh, I think there’s no story here’ and cut back their coverage to basic facts.

Presumably the scenes were gory enough – she apparently fell down a waterfall – that responsible folk (ONE reporters and ONE newsmasters: ‘Responsible’ is a word 1241 pages into the 1690 page dictionary that I have but which you clearly have no use for) deemed that pictures shouldn’t be accessible by Te Meejya.

Doubtless too, any pictures used from the footage would need to have been pixelated.

Along with the usual trite “Some Viewers May Find This Footage Distressing’ caveat…

To use a Tame Jackism, accompanied of course with some theatrical arm-waving, ‘What was the POINT?’

Shame, ONE, shame…
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December 24, 2024 9:14am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  If it bleeds it leads.
  
  These people are ghouls, it is how they roll. They would film bodies at car crashes if they thought they could get away with it.
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:20am
  - MCōs
    
    Well it’s an interesting thing, Nigel
    We’re told people are being turned off the MSM because the standard of the reporting is plummeting and social media is so much better.
    Yesterday while looking through X, in amongst the neverending parade of ads featuring Elon Musk, there were far far worse videos than I saw on TVNZ news of Maia Johnston concealed behind some screens being carried to an ambulance.
    
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    December 24, 2024 9:47am
    - Graeme Hall
      
      How does viewing some gory videos on X make TV One’s approach acceptable? I’m afraid your logic escapes me.
      
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      December 24, 2024 10:43am
      - judith8409121
        
        it doesn’t – the logical fallacy is called “what aboutism”
        
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        December 24, 2024 1:03pm
    - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
      
      What sort of argument is that? x has poor salacious content, so that makes it ok???
      
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      December 24, 2024 1:49pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        X is a proponent of freedom of speech.
        ie Minimum Censorship.
        So you get a wide range of stuff on X.
        
        Merry X Mas.
        
        All the poor luvies bleed when something nasty is shown.
        
        Get a grip folks.
        
        There is a real world out there.
        Just because you find it offensive(your choice to be offended) doesnt mean that everyone should have to be offended and upset as well.
        
        Blue sheets covering an event, or actual footage, so what?
        
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        December 24, 2024 2:16pm
- kowtow
  
  Silly season , slow news time.
  
  Fill in the alleged gaps with even more prurient crap than usual.
  
  If you want to annoy yourself have a look at today’s Herald editorial offering.They’ve let the resident adolescent apprentice cultural Marxist vent again, against the coalition.
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:58am
  - MCōs
    
    You’re easily triggered
    Here’s the article in question and it’s basically a wishlist for next year
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/editorial-what-should-pm-christopher-luxon-be-asking-santa-for-xmas/S2UGNVBJ7BDXVDLNZVQDPDWG6A/
    
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    December 24, 2024 10:36am
    - Paulus
      
      Like most New Zealanders Luxon is on holiday with his family at their bach.
      Do you really think he will pick up and read the Herald.
      As usual load of bollocks – and I have not taken the Herald for years and will not.
      
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      December 24, 2024 10:46am
    - peterwn
      
      It should suggest that Chris Luxon ask Santa to give a Scrooge McDuck style Money Bin (capacity 3 cubic acres – full of course) to Nicola Willis. Nicola can then be all things to all people.
      
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      December 24, 2024 11:39am
    - kowtow
      
      Easily triggered!
      
      That isn’t today’s Herald print version editorial, so is not ,as you arrogantly and incorrectly assert the article I’m referring to.
      
      Get it right before throwing crap about.
      
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      December 24, 2024 12:17pm
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      We all know what Luxon needs from Santa – but he won’t use it anyway.
      
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      December 24, 2024 12:30pm
      - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
        
        It? Or them? Asking for a friend…
        
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        December 24, 2024 1:50pm
      - imalwaysright
        
        Ears
        
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        December 24, 2024 2:47pm
artemisia

Polyfest scales back: ‘They’re seeing it as a cost, rather than an investment’ ‘They’ refers to taxpayers. And yes it is a cost. Not a huge cost to taxpayers, and there is a better than inflation increase, but organisers want more.

Polyfest organisers are scaling back next year’s event and blaming the government for not fronting up more cash.

It is certainly a great event, and does seem like organisers are adjusting downwards. That is entirely appropriate, but blaming taxpayers for not tipping in more cash than promised – that is not appropriate.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/537478/polyfest-scales-back-they-re-seeing-it-as-a-cost-rather-than-an-investment
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December 24, 2024 9:27am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  They had the guy on from polyfest this morning, he stated they have given them the 60 k, asked why the whinging and he said we have drawn attention to it cause we thought we should get more, now media are making it sounds like they were short changed, it should not be allowed. He clarified this before spoke this morning
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:49am
- rouppe
  
  Poly fest is now such a big event they ought to be able to fund it themselves through ticket sales and sponsorship.
  
  No one else’s culture is funded. The Indian community fund Diwali largely themselves.
  
  Getting it off the ground, sure, give them some help. Now… Look after yourselves
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:07am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  I’m wondering how much money the taxpayer pours into, say, the national surf lifesaving competition; or the Maardi Cup. I’m thinking that it’s nothing at all (but am happy to be proved wrong). In which case, why is there any taxpayer funding for Polyfest?
  
  The other thing is that surely there’s private funding available, from one iwi or another. A terrific marketing opportunity. And if there were a Trust or two sitting on a pile of taxpayer dough and thinking that a bit of good PR might be handy right about now …
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:09am
  - Graeme Hall
    
    As I understood it, the whole event used to be self-funded & self organised until one day some politician looked and saw votes. After that the taxpayer was on the hook and those hands kept coming out.
    
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    December 24, 2024 10:46am
  - Paulus
    
    As it is Poly which now includes Maori, in some prominence, perhaps the Waitangi Tribunal will contribute.
    
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    December 24, 2024 10:49am
Cassandra

Matthew Hooten having a massive go at Luxon in the paywalled Herald. What’s happened between these two? Lefties having a field day but what will voters do? Go back to Labour which couldn’t organise a party in a brewery or stick with National which can, although they’d have to put up with Luxon who apparently has an annoying way of talking? Returning to Labour would be going back to total incompetence plus a healthy dose of Maori preference.
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December 24, 2024 9:29am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  I always get the feeling that Hooten simply hasn’t gotten over his Todd Muller fiasco and has had no decent offers since (apart from Wayne Brown maybe…).
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:46am
- lifesgood
  
  No one pays any attention to Hooten, he’s a paid mercenary, runs with the hares, hunts with the hounds and will say whatever to please whoever is paying him the most.
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:49am
  - Paulus
    
    If Hooten says nothing he does not get paid – so any bullshit will do.
    
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    December 24, 2024 10:51am
- pdm
  
  Cass – one should never omit mentioning Labour’s mates the awful Greens and the even worse Maori Party
  
  The obnoxious triumvirate of New Zealand politics.
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:49am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Māori and greens both in cabinet
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:50am
- Jack5
  
  If anything strongly cements my favourable view of Chris Luxon as a first-class coalition manager, it’s criticism from the idiot Hooten.
  
  Politicians who can manage coalitions and hold them together are rare. Luxon is one of them.
  
  Hooten’s overwhelmingly been scribbling from the wrong side.
  
  Remember Hooten’s sniping at Bridges and Co. as Ardern rose in Labour? The Muller interlude worked out well, didn’t it?
  
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  December 24, 2024 11:01am
- Michael Sommerville
  
  Hooten is in the same grouping as Simon Wilson as far as I’m concerned. Just not worth reading. You will not learn anything and come away frustrated that sane people think like that.
  
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  December 24, 2024 11:20am
- BananaLlama
  
  He was pretty asshurt over Muller but has always been a bit of mercenary and takes sides with whoever pays him well.
  
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  December 24, 2024 3:04pm
Chuck Bird

This does not sound good for Luxon

Democracy Briefing: National decline in 2024 by Bryce Edwards

https://democracyproject.substack.com/p/democracy-briefing-national-decline?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1885783&post_id=153537468&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=1p69qr&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
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December 24, 2024 9:32am
- Chris R
  
  To me it sounds normal for Dr Edwards. Please let me know when this irritation has ever said anything close to neutral about Mr Luxon (or indeed the coalition.) In any survey/opinion piece the first port to call at is the identity of the writer.
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:41am
- peterwn
  
  Who cares what Bryce Edwards thinks. There are lots of media hacks out there who think they know more about politics than Chris Luxon, Winston Peters, David Seymour or Nicola Willis.
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:51am
  - Taieri
    
    With all due respect, despite his meteoric rise, Chris Luxon’s political experience is relatively short. All 4 years of it in total, with 3 years as a National leader and just over a year as the PM.
    
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    December 24, 2024 10:03am
    - kowtow
      
      Meteoric rise or parachute drop ,like Key into the position.
      There’s got to be a story there.
      
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      December 24, 2024 11:00am
    - peterwn
      
      His political experience would have started when he got his first management job with Unilever and would have become deeper while with Air NZ. So he already had a good background of political experience when he entered Parliament.
      Nicola Willis was the opposite. She had tons of political experience and then left a political type job to gain commercial experience.
      
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      December 24, 2024 11:54am
      - Ra Henare
        
        Peter, being in management in a Corporate, means the ability to do what your boss wants and to coin a phrase, lick arse.
        
        Yes, office politics exists everywhere, so some exposure to small P politics would have been in our PMs past.
        
        But real world political leaders need more than Senior Management skills. Which Mr Luxon has.
        
        Leaders need to have a vision and the ability to get millions to follow that vision.
        Think Nelson Mandela, think John F Kennedy, dare I say it Trump.
        
        Mr Luxon has not yet attained that leadership trait, IMHO. Keep in mind, the National coalition was elected to oust the previous disaster.
        
        Overall Mr Luxon is being a good CEO for the Country. Not inspirational but effective in a Corporate way.
        
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        December 24, 2024 2:31pm
      - Jack5
        
        Ra Henare’s …Overall Mr Luxon is being a good CEO for the Country. Not inspirational but effective in a Corporate way …
        
        What if that’s what’s required under MMP?
        
        Virtual one-party governments like Ardern’s will likely be rare, perhaps never again.
        
        To survive, coalitions need the equivalent of a good CEO – like Luxon.
        
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        December 24, 2024 2:47pm
  - kowtow
    
    He actually produces some good , cranial stuff.
    
    https://democracyproject.nz/2024/05/27/bryce-edwards-parliaments-increasingly-toxic-ethnic-identity-wars/
    
    https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/dr-bryce-edwards-democracy-briefing-foundations-of-a-constitutional-crisis
    
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    December 24, 2024 10:04am
    - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
      
      Yes. As long as you recognize his lefty filter he does good work, and can think.
      
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      December 24, 2024 1:53pm
- pdm
  
  Chuck one should never forget that Bryce is a lefty through and through.
  
  More objective than most lefty commentators but, still a lefty
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:52am
  - Paulus
    
    How can he be Left through and through – he is a University Lecturer, teaching our so called future.
    
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    December 24, 2024 10:53am
    - pdm
      
      Being a lefty probably helped clinch the job Paulus.
      
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      December 24, 2024 11:36am
  - Ra Henare
    
    In the big picture. Being a lefty, is not a reason to deride anybody.
    EG. JFK was a lefty.
    Nelson Mandela started political life as a Marxist.
    
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    December 24, 2024 2:35pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  The poll figures are utter bullshit, 2 of those last 5 public polls have Nats at 38% and 38.8% how the hell does this equated to 32 average, Labour leaked internal which did not have actual data, and one polling company no one has ever heard of, it’s utter bullshit, we keep hearing about labours internals only for One news to show they are lying
  
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  December 24, 2024 9:54am
  - BananaLlama
    
    Couple of push polls after they rolled out the astroturf for the Maori Party protests, good grief they even had the NZ Police helping them with their placards.
    
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    December 24, 2024 3:08pm
- Scott
  
  Well, seeing as it’s Christmas I think it’s appropriate to be thankful. To have an attitude of gratitude.
  I’m thankful for this govt that is working hard to turn things around after 6 long years of leftist governance.
  This is from the last newsletter for the year from Chris Luxon:
  “I want to wish every single one of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2025.
  
  There is no denying this year has been tough, but I am so positive about the direction National is taking New Zealand.
  
  The great privilege of this job is everyday I get to meet Kiwis who share with me their aspirations and challenges which is what makes me more determined to get New Zealand back on track.
  
  It’s been a big year for the Government as we’ve worked at pace to rebuild the economy to reduce the cost of living, restore law and order and deliver better public services.
  
  This year, when it comes to the economy, Kiwis have seen:
  – Inflation down to 2.2% from a peak of 7.3%
  – 3 interest rate cuts, after 12 rises
  – Wages rising faster than inflation for 4 quarters in a row, after 13 quarters of declining real wages
  – Tax relief for 3.5 million New Zealanders – the first time in 14 years
  – Business, consumer and farmer confidence at their highest levels in recent times.
  On the law and order front, we’ve had:
  – Total victimisations down
  – Gang patches banned
  – Ram raids down 60%
  – Police foot patrols is up by 30%.
  In our schools, we’ve had:
  – An hour a day each of reading, writing and maths
  – Phones banned from the classroom
  – Structured Literacy and Maths developed to teach our kids the basics brilliantly
  – And school attendance up 6 points.
  In health, we’ve:
  – Invested a record $16.7bn more
  – Invested in up to 26 new cancer treatments as part of 54 new medicines helping 175,000 Kiwis
  – Hired 2,900 more nurses.”
  
  So that’s a lot in a year. I would add the end of 3 waters, the end of the Maori health authority and the end of the implementation of He Puapua can be added to the list of achievements. I would also give appropriate thanks to National’s coalition partners.
  
  Given the beginning of the Trump 2nd term, the consequent boom in the US economy, the good effect it will have on the world economy, including NZ, I believe there is a lot to look forward to in 2025.
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:06am
  - Quail
    
    Scott,
    Before celebrating the end of inflation take a brief glance at the US where inflation is still with them , the likelyhood of pressure on world oil prices and take yet another look at the value of NZD.
    Inflation is not yet back in its box.
    Any saver will note the loss of purchasing power of these savings.
    Further observation shows an unbelievable increase in Government deficit spending.This is inflationary.
    The madness prevails — Ex PM Key is even now calling for more large OCR cuts.This would be absolute insanity if one did not have a large property portfolio or their savings offshore.
    Roll on 2025!
    Perhaps ,just perhaps , the Government will put NZ ahead of staying in power!
    
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    December 24, 2024 2:32pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Just a small point.
      Since the New Government came to power (12 months ago)
      
      NZD is down 10.35% against the USD(due to USD strength) US Inflation rate is higher than ours.
      
      But only down 2.25% against to oz dollar.
      OZ inflation is higher than ours.
      
      The NZD is weak because the economy is crap. Not really about inflation rates.
      
      We are down against the Russian Ruble even tho their inflation rate is 8.9%
      https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/inflation-rate
      
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      December 24, 2024 3:06pm
      - Jack5
        
        Ra’s … The NZD is weak because the economy is crap. Not really about inflation rates. ….
        
        Countries on the rise often strive, or strove, to keep their exchange rates down. Examples: Post-war West Germany, China.
        
        Now we want them higher – for the price of cars and whiteware and for holidays abroad.
        
        Fifty years ago the word “exports” was frequently on New Zealanders’ lips.
        
        Now, Shane Jones is about the only politician who acknowledges their importance. He is talking about promising industries like aquaculture and goes on about “the regions” — which, of course is where the country creates its exports.
        
        However, the kiwi dollar would likely have been now if Ardern hadn’t killed oil and gas exploration, and if her national closedown during Covid hadn’t near strangled our tourism industries.
        
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        December 24, 2024 3:34pm
- Jack5
  
  Bryce Edwards is among the country’s more intelligent Leftists, but he’s well-Left of Centre.
  
  In the article quoted by Chuck Bird, Edwards leans on Matthew Hooton, who’s now re-scribbling his campaign against Simon Bridges, this time undermining Christopher Luxon.
  
  A sample from the Edwards piece:
  
  “Hooton cites the Prime Minister’s obliviousness in agreeing to support David Seymour’s Treaty Principles Bill through first reading because he simply didn’t understand the background of the Treaty debate.”
  
  FFS, the Luxon position was obviously part of the coalition agreement, the means of getting ACT and NZ First and National to form a government.
  
  And Hooton cited again, this time on Luxon’s writing standard:
  
  “Luxon’s language is often derided as business-speak, but no genuine businessperson uses so much corporate twaddle.”
  
  Is Hooton on some sort of medication? He’s talking about a guy who’s been an executive in a multinational business.
  
  Hooton will get columns and columns of mileage in the biased NZ Herald, dying Stuff, State TV, and State radio, as they present him as a faux-Rightist balance to their Leftist work.
  
  Shame on Bryce Edwards for joining them.
  
  .
  
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  December 24, 2024 12:02pm
Chuck Bird

I was watching an interview of Dr Patrick Moore when he mentioned he was on the board of the CO2 Coalition. They have a different view on CO2 and moderate warming. They argue that CO2 greens the planet and moderate warming is beneficial.

The CO2 Coalition

https://co2coalition.org/about-us/
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December 24, 2024 9:48am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Just as well Patrick Moore does not live in the equivalent of Putin’s Russia as the danger of TBS* would be ever present.
  
  * Tall Building Syndrome
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:15am
Pope Punctilious II

Why has National (and Luxon) declined in the polls? asks Bryce Edwards. He says “most commentators” identify three liabilities for National: Luxon’s communication skills and political judgement, the economy, and “the public does not trust the Government to manage the public health system.” Well Bryce, is that any surprise considering the political orientation of most journalists? Here’s a fourth possible reason: the Nats are too woke for a large chunk of the electorate.

Edwards also makes much of “right-wing” Matthew Hooten’s critique of Luxon. Apparently Hooten argues that “Luxon’s inability to take the public with him comes from a lack of intellectual substance.” I’m not sure about that – after all, Key and Ardern were both wildly popular for most of their respective times in office, without ever providing much evidence of intellectual substance. They simply came across much better in the media than Luxon – that’s not evidence of “intellectual substance”.

I’m not sure why anyone would take seriously the opinion of someone who thought glass-jawed Todd Muller was the man to lead the Nats out of the political wilderness.
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December 24, 2024 9:50am
- Taieri
  
  They simply came across much better in the media than Luxon – that’s not evidence of “intellectual substance”
  ————-
  
  No, but the “intellectual substance” doesn’t win the elections. The right PR does.
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:09am
  - Jack5
    
    “The right PR” depends on access to communications media.
    
    The Left has control of print media, State TV and State radio.They continue their bias against the Right.
    
    Lack of “PR” isn’t the problem.
    
    There may not be a one-party controlled government again. The present Coalition is as good as the Centre-Right and Right will get, and there will be more “Ardernism” scale socialism if we get a Labour-Green-Maori Party coalition at the next election.
    
    The Luxon Coalition is 37.6 per cent through its term (until the last possible date for the next election).
    
    The Leftists are still at the gates.
    
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    December 24, 2024 12:53pm
- kiwikidsnz
  
  Hooten lecturing anyone on “intellectual substance” ROFLMAO
  
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  December 24, 2024 12:35pm
peterwn

“Fixing leaks and raising crossings: Tory Whanau lists WCC achievements”.

“Phenomenal effort” has fixed thousands of leaks” (Scoop headlines)

What the heck! The issue is why the waterworks had no proper asset management plan that included fixing leaks. Apart from leaks wasting water, the leaking water also damages roading assets and the cost of that does not seem to be taken into account.
It is not a heroic effort. It is merely what waterworks people should have been doing all along if they were doing their jobs properly and if councils were exercising their governance responsibilities properly. It took nagging from concerned people in the community to shame the councils and waterworks people into action.

https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=166761
https://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=166758
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December 24, 2024 9:58am
- rouppe
  
  To be fair that’s not all on Tory. Pipe work has been kicked down the road since the 80’s or 90’s.
  
  The question is, now that it’s become critical, how should the council respond. In my view it’s not by spending money on raised crossings or cycleways.
  
  Fixing leaks is reactive. That needs to be complemented by a considered strategy of repairing/replacing lines that are failing. In all the noise about fixing geysers I’m not even sure that’s happening.
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:14am
  - peterwn
    
    While she cannot be blamed for the lack of action on leaks, nevertheless she and her Council had to be pressed very hard to ensure there was l proper leaks programme. While a proper leaks programme requires money up front, it would probably generate cash saving over 5 years and even deeper savings over a longer time span (eg deferral of expensive headworks to increase supply).
    Kapiti District Council was very conscious of this sort of situation since augmenting supply required more headworks (for which consenting would be difficult) or a pipeline from Haywards (very, very expensive). That is why they went for water metering despite entrenched opposition from a section of the community (socialists just hate the idea of water metering) and the odds are they have been on top of dealing with leaks for quite a while.
    
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    December 24, 2024 12:07pm
    - rouppe
      
      While water meters are useful in changing behaviour, such as reducing extensive irrigation of lawns and gardens, I’ve yet to understand how they help identify leaks in mains infrastructure, which almost certainly leak heavily before spectacularly bursting through roads.
      
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      December 24, 2024 12:20pm
      - kiwikidsnz
        
        Half of Wellington’s water was leaked before it reached the people who pay for it. Water meters are just another blameshifting rates increase by stealth
        
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        December 24, 2024 12:37pm
      - cmm
        
        Water metering can potentially help.
        If 10,000 litres go into a pipe but only 5,000 litres go past the water meters then 5,000 litres was lost in pipe leaks.
        
        But the main purpose is to reduce water consumption and thus avoid the problem of running short (mainly caused by leaks).
        
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        December 24, 2024 1:21pm
    - MCōs
      
      From what I understand water consumption went down about 25% on the Kapiti Coast after water metering
      People used less water by getting leaks fixed or turning off taps plus the council neither had to source nor treat as much water.
      
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      December 24, 2024 2:09pm
- In Vino Veritas
  
  Fixing leaks? Meaningless unless the loss of water has significantly decreased.
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:14am
  - MCōs
    
    Those fountains of water in the middle of the road might have started as an easily repairable leak!
    
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    December 24, 2024 2:12pm
- MCōs
  
  The reason successive councils have booted the problems down the road is because it’s mega expensive to fix leaky pipes with nothing the ratepayers can actually see to justify the expense.
  If a pipe bursts and there’s suddenly a new unwanted water feature in Aro St it’s probably because the pipe has not been maintained over the years.
  I heard on the news WCC has been putting a lot of work into fixing leaky pipes, meaning less likelihood of the water restrictions that happened every year when I lived there.
  Still more than 40% of water is lost to leaks
  https://www.wellingtonwater.co.nz/about-us/news-and-media/news-and-media-2/wellington-water-encouraged-by-reduction-in-water-loss#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20recently%20ran%20the%20annual,Wellington%20Water's%20Acting%20CE%2C%20Charles
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:22am
- Graeme Hall
  
  Aren’t random geysers of sewerage bursting out at Wellington intersections an exciting tourism feature in recent years? Tory should take credit.
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:54am
  - David Garrett
    
    Graeme: Random geysers of SEWAGE old boy…sewage is the brown and yellow stuff which flows through the SEWERAGE, the pipes etc. that transfer the sewage to its final destination
    
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    December 24, 2024 2:28pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  4400 leaks fixed from Jan to Nov? Really?
  That is about 95 repairs per week. Impossible for any Council let alone Wellington! We are not talking replacing kitchen tap washers.
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:54am
- greybeard
  
  This morning on NewstalkZB I heard an ad. for Wellington Water, they were asking the pub lic to save water by taking shorter showers etc !
  Talk about not reading the room !
  
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  December 24, 2024 10:56am
MCōs

I see a prisoner has escaped while visiting Waikato Hospital.
A couple of times I’ve seen prisoners at hospitals and there’s no way they could have escaped.
The first one was handcuffed to a big brute from corrections with another large gentleman holding his other arm.
The other one was a mean looking dude I’d read about in the papers who’d been shot in the leg, which was obviously broken. He was exiting Middlemore on crutches accompanied by about four policemen and hurried away in a paddy wagon.
You see some sights at that drop off area at Middlemore.
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December 24, 2024 10:07am
I remember when

Mike Bain: What called you to action in 2024: Breaking views:
The article draws attention to protest action and in particular action regarding child abuse.
He asks why does protest action so often fall short of its goals.
If we look at the seemingly constant victims of intergang conflict, which are almost an accepted consequence, how can we expect child abuse to be a major concern?
Does abortion, regardless of the arguments by either side, have an affect on our attitude?
Can we allow assisted deaths without any lessening of our concerns?
Why don’t we insist on greater action with regards to child abuse?
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December 24, 2024 10:18am
Steve Otto N Shore

Unionized Social Security workers get a deal to keep remote work.
Sometime I wonder if this sort of shit is happening in NZ.
Biden is doing anything he can to piss Trump off.
Selling border wall materials is another – even though a law says materials unused for a certain time must be sold off.

https://patriotpulse.net/donald-trump-was-ready-for-a-fight-after-joe-biden-made-this-terrible-backroom-deal/?
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December 24, 2024 11:37am
Steve Otto N Shore

Brian Tamaki calls out John Tamihere and Māori elite after news Waipareira Trust to be deregistered.
“Tamaki argues that while billions have been allocated to Māori organisations, urban Māori face worsening conditions in housing, crime, and health.”
Strange? That is how the Waitangi Tribunal works as well!

https://centrist.nz/brian-tamaki-calls-out-john-tamihere-and-maori-elite-after-news-waipareira-trust-to-be-deregistered/?
13 1
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December 24, 2024 11:52am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGc7VfKuEj4
Will Iran’s Ayatollahs Be the Next to Fall?
After the fall of Al-Assad in Syria, the Ayatollahs’ regime in Iran is weaker than ever. Trump wants to seize the opportunity.
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December 24, 2024 12:08pm
- MCōs
  
  Lasting regime changes almost invariably come from within
  If Iran is to permanently change the existing form of government it must be because that’s what the people want.
  America artificially changed Afghanistan and propped up the regime they installed for twenty odd years, but as soon as left the locals to themselves it all came unstuck.
  The same in Vietnam and it’ll be the same in Panama if America were to invade there. Which they won’t.
  The last time Trump was Pres he threatened to invade Venezuela, but he never did.
  
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  December 24, 2024 1:50pm
- Grunter
  
  I can’t see the Ayatollahs lasting another 5 years. An over throw from within seems likely. Too much religious hatered and nutters.
  
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  December 24, 2024 3:06pm
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqAAw5hJGkU
Argentina’s Poverty Rate Plummets from 54.8% to 38.5%: Here’s How.
In this video, we explore the significant decline in Argentina’s poverty rate, which has fallen from 54.8% to 38.5%. Join us as we delve into the factors behind this impressive improvement, the policies implemented, and the real-life impacts on the people of Argentina. From governmental strategies to community responses, find out what has driven this change and what it means for the future of the country. Don’t forget to subscribe for more insights and updates on global economic trends.
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December 24, 2024 12:10pm
rouppe

Who knew, that enforcing residential tenancy laws would improve behaviour?

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360528298/huge-increase-evictions-disruptive-kainga-ora-tenants-due-new-approach

Oh, and it’s not a new approach. It’s an approach that’s worked in the private sector for a long time
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December 24, 2024 12:38pm
- cmm
  
  Feedback and consequences modify behaviour?
  
  Wow – who would have thunked that?
  
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  December 24, 2024 1:42pm
NothingLeft

Ridiculously agile Chinese robo-dog:
https://youtu.be/X2UxtKLZnNo

Imagine armies of these with guns invading Taiwan – or anywhere really.
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December 24, 2024 1:14pm
rouppe

So it appears that Maia Johnston “fell from a waterfall“. Two story fall.

Props to her for surviving, I have to say.

But why would you walk along this?
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December 24, 2024 1:28pm
- lifesgood
  
  “fell from a waterfall” is only the official story methinks. Poor girl. I hope she mends well.
  
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  December 24, 2024 3:26pm
Jack5

For others who have got by with “burner” phones (text and voice only) …

Many or most will be 3G transmission. One (formerly Vodafone NZ) will begin shutting down its 3G transmission next week.

I’m going to pop my burner SIM into a second slot in a smart phone inflicted on me.

Tip: The Warehouse has a 4G “burner” (i.e. text and voice only) on special at $35 (link below).

Otherwise it might be time to surrender and get a smart phone:

https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/search?q=phone&lang=default
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December 24, 2024 1:35pm
- BananaLlama
  
  You can get free sim cards from a number of outlets if you have migrated over to a smart phone just use a hardware spoof and it’s good as gold.
  
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  December 24, 2024 3:12pm
nygr

Some of these gang names give the impression of a comedy show. Kuki Squad (Cook Island), Fitus (Tongan), Damned Pirates (Maori). Under Ardern’s comradeship we were often warned about the fascist white right wing gangs. I ask … where are they? It seems like all the violence, drug dealing, and other gang crime comes from the left wing.
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December 24, 2024 1:48pm
NothingLeft

AI human extinction risk – the near-term enormous danger that almost everyone is ignoring. A short summary of current state of things:
https://youtu.be/EtUE4aHRgcE

There was an announcement a few days ago that Open AI’s ‘O3’ AI, had passed the esteemed ARC-AGI test suite for General Human-Level Reasoning Intelligence. Artificial General Intelligence is no longer some far-off thing. AGI is here, now, and with ongoing rapid improvement will surpass humans in all fields within 2-3 years.

We have maybe 5 years left to develop the globally coherent political will to halt AGI development and prevent the (be it in 50 or 5000 years) human extinction that uncaring artificial superintelligence lacking evolutionarily reinforced drivers to pro-human-society beliefs will inevitably bring, regardless of if we manage to make them initially friendly AKA ‘aligned’ to humans (there is no reliable/feasible mechanism to maintain alignment over long term as artificial super intelligence grows and expands)

For those of you familiar with Dune and the Butlerian Jihad “thou shalt not create a machine in the likeness of a human mind”, Samuel Butler was a 19th Century shepherd at Erewhon (approximate palindrome of nowhere) Station in the high country inland from Ashburton and made famous as Eddoras in the LOTR films.

We need that Butlerian Jihad made real now if our kids are to have any chance to live the happy, safe, agentic and long lives we here on kiwiblog have been blessed to experience.
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December 24, 2024 3:00pm
Jack5

Online banking problems today, the day before Christmas, for ANZ customers. (First link below).

The Reserve Bank plans to have a digital cash system working within six years. (Second link below). What chaos there will be if that system snarls up on a December 24.

NZ sits on the edge of a tectonic plane and is liable to earthquakes, volcanoes, and tidal waves.

Far into the future, we’ll need paper and coin cash — and facilities to process them — when digital links fail in catastrophes.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/anz-online-banking-outage-hits-a-day-out-from-christmas/MXKJKJEQUJHF7JHLDHAXR6YOSU/

AND

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/524046/reserve-bank-makes-plans-to-have-digital-currency-in-place-by-2030
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December 24, 2024 3:17pm
- BananaLlama
  
  Digital currency, oh god, i hope one day farmers will get paid in foreign currency at the yards.
  Don’t laugh dreams are free.
  
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  December 24, 2024 3:25pm

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