General Debate 26 February 2025

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Simon

What is NZ govt position on US Russia peace negotiations on Ukraine? On the side of Trump Admin reality that Russia China won or going down the nutjob Euro / UK way of fighting on the beaches?
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February 26, 2025 8:12am
- Grunter
  
  Luxon has stated that we are “looking at” sending peace keepers to support Ukraine. Winston has whacked more sanctions on Russia in the past week.
  
  We are currently on the wrong side of history…..
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:07am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Luxon seems quite happy to form an opinion of the mood of the country about an overseas conflict and take direct action.
    But he seems unable to do the same when it comes to the growing conflict in his own country, namely the treaty.
    
    Is it because Putin is on the other side of the planet and the maori party is on the other side of the House?
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:53am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Sitting on the fence is best. Then nobody can criticize for siding with one or the other. What a good boy.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:30am
  - Simon
    
    What a disaster for NZ to back Europe against Russia / China. Its not a hard decision, just wondering if the govt have made up their minds.
    
    Suppose after Trump meets Starmer this week.
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:01pm
    - Grunter
      
      Simon, you mean “What a disaster for NZ to back Europe against Russia, China AND THE USA.”
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:11pm
      - Greenheart
        
        Wrong as usual. Now that an agreement has been signed by USA and UKRAINE over exploitation of the latters resources the USA will have to protect them.
        
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        February 26, 2025 3:29pm
      - Grunter
        
        Greenheart
        The deals with Ukraine and Russia are both ‘in play’. Trump is threading a needle like only he can. The USA deal with Russia will likely be a far bigger deal than the Ukraine one.
        
        Trump will get some minerals in West Ukraine after he hands over the bulk of the minerals to Russia that are in Russias new territories (old East Ukraine).
        
        I haven’t been wrong yet in saying ‘Ukraine will loose’. So not sure what you’re referring to.??
        
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        February 26, 2025 8:05pm
  - Paulus
    
    The important part of Luxon’s Coalition is the opposition, known as NZF and ACT.
    
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    February 26, 2025 2:41pm
    - Quail
      
      Paulus,
      Don’t blame them!
      
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      February 26, 2025 3:57pm
Scott

New measures are to be announced to combat the huge rise in retail crime –

https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/on-air/mike-hosking-breakfast/audio/paul-goldsmith-justice-minister-on-the-new-changes-to-citizens-arrest-powers-amid-an-uptick-in-retail-crime/

The power of citizens arrest is long overdue. Previously owners of dairies and supermarket workers appeared to have no power in stopping people filling up their trollies and walking out without paying.

This is a big change from the previous govt who appeared to have no concern for property and thieves were just allowed to get away with it.

I continue to say we should support this govt. They may not be doing all we want. But they are doing 50% of what we want.

However if you roll the leader of the coalition it will guarantee the opposition will win the next election. And then you will have 100% of what you don’t want.
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February 26, 2025 8:14am
- David Garrett
  
  This is good news, and certainly a step in the right direction.
  
  They could take it a step further and provide immunity from prosecution for Mr Patel or members of his hard working family if they seriously injure some prick trying to rob them of their hard earned.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:05am
  - cmm
    
    Add to that low-end defensive weaponry.
    
    While I would personally like for Mr Patel to be allowed to have a .38, I am realistic enough to put that wish aside.
    
    I think it is surely time for the grown up conversation where citizens can carry pepper spray etc for defensive use.
    
    Of course if someone misuses a pepper spray then charge them with aggravated assault and throw the bloody book at them.
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:05am
    - David Garrett
      
      cmm: I am with you – I’d also like Mr Patel to be allowed to have a .45 (better smack down than a .38!) but that’s never going to happen – and to be fair, all fantasies aside, that’s probably a good thing.
      
      But Mr Patel should legally be allowed to brain some asshole armed robber with a baseball bat. And if said putative armed robber dies, so be it.
      
      And the definition of an “armed robber”? Anyone entering premises displaying any kind of weapon, from a screwdriver to a gun.
      
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      February 26, 2025 11:10am
      - cmm
        
        DG: One of the most unreasonable principles often applied to self defence is that of “reasonable force”.
        
        The way that this should be used is saying that force maybe applied until the threat is over. ie. when the robber is lying in a heap on the ground crying over his broken arm, Mr Patel should stop hitting him with the baseball bat.
        
        Unfortunately this is often gets thought of as using weapons which match the weapon being used by the robber.
        
        The latter is of course ridiculous. If the robber comes with a screwdriver, must Mr Patel put down his baseball bat and dig around for a screwdriver?
        
        This is not sportsmanship. This is not a conflict that Mr Patel chose to get involved in. The way “reasonable force” should be applied is that Mr Patel can choose to use a shotgun if he so wishes (yeah, I know I’m dreaming here) but should stop shooting once the threat is no longer a threat.
        
        I would say that “armed robber” is too restrictive. We need to understand that a fist is a weapon. If 5 large lumps of intimidating meat enter the shop then Mr Patel should be allowed to use his baseball bat to back up his request for them to leave.
        
        We won’t get firearms – at least for another 20 years – if ever. But pepper sprays in hand bags and a baseball bat behind the front seats of a car should be legalised.
        
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        February 26, 2025 11:48am
      - kowtow
        
        The way cowardly “head stomping” has become a thing with the criminal class , boots could and should be considered offensive weapons too.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:47pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        A screwdriver? But I’m an electrician!
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:52pm
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        .44
        I have seen what it can do, in Alaska.
        A Cop at the family camp had one and showed us. Tim said “there are only two things this gun will not stop – elephant and a blue whale.”
        We shot at many targets until Tim fired and just destroyed it with a 3 inch hole.
        
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        February 26, 2025 4:59pm
      - Bevan
        
        Follow up shots are easier from a .38
        
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        February 26, 2025 5:01pm
      - cmm
        
        38 vs 45ACP vs 44 Mag?
        
        Look, that 45 will make a massive hole. 44 Mag even bigger. If that is the only consideration then bigger is better.
        
        But a 38 is much easier to control with less training – especially for the diminutive Mrs Patel.
        
        A person with basic or moderate training will get off 3 or 4 well controlled shots with a 38 or such in less time than they would get off 2 shots with a 45 or a 44Mag. This is especially important in the shorter ranges encountered in robber situations.
        
        Never underestimate the effectiveness of a 38 or 9mm or even a 380.
        
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        February 26, 2025 5:30pm
    - thirteenstars
      
      Taser, pepper spray, sure, but guns would require a fundamental change in NZ law.
      
      During the police interview for a gun licence if you mention self-defence as a reason for your application, you will be denied.
      
      Further, you can’t keep a gun ready for the purposes of self-defence.
      
      Keeping a loaded weapon, readily available, cannot be justified on the basis of a claim of self-defence relating to a generalised fear.
      
      Use of force on a person is normally a criminal offence. It would be extremely rare that the use of a firearm against a person would be considered lawful.
      
      https://www.firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/manage-and-apply/firearms-licence/you-apply-firearms-licence
      
      If I was a dairy owner I’d keep a fake sawn-off shotgun under the counter but I’m pretty sure brandishing even a fake gun in NZ is illegal. Perhaps that’s just in public.
      
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      February 26, 2025 11:48am
      - cmm
        
        You are not allowed to keep a gun ready. Period. The reason is irrelevant.
        
        It is illegal to store a loaded firearm or even store a loaded magazine, even if it is just to deal with possums.
        
        I think there is a lot of good middle ground between where we are now (no defence weapons allowed at all) to the other extreme of firearms.
        
        Pepper sprays, tasers, airsoft guns with pepper balls…
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:09pm
      - thirteenstars
        
        “You are not allowed to keep a gun ready. Period. The reason is irrelevant.”
        
        That wasn’t what I said. I said during the interview (and application) the police will ask why you want a gun licence. Self-defence is a disqualifier.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:27pm
      - cmm
        
        Thirteen. Yes you are correct there.
        When I was interviewd they asked two questions:
        1) Purpose of wanting the weapon (and self defence would be a disqualifier).
        2) Would you use a weapon for self defence? I answered yes to that. It is fine to own a firearm for the purpose of hunting etc, but use it for justified self defence.
        
        The shotgun you bought for shooting bunnies works just as well giving a crim a load of buckshot. There is of course a bunch of paperwork afterwards and you better have a bloody good justification.
        
        If someone was standing outside my back door about to molitov cocktail the house, I’d give him a barrel.
        
        Of course this is not legal advice.
        
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        February 26, 2025 2:06pm
      - Michael Sommerville
        
        I like the sign in the shop window in the states. “Security of this venue is provided by Smith and Wesson”.
        
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        February 26, 2025 2:51pm
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        In Alaska they have a round chambered and on safe.
        Otherwise it is like trying to put a seat belt on before a crash. The crash or the bear will kill you.
        
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        February 26, 2025 5:07pm
      - thirteenstars
        
        “The shotgun you bought for shooting bunnies works just as well giving a crim a load of buckshot.”
        
        The old advice, and a very dark joke, is if you find an intruder in the house you put the first barrel into their chest and the second into the floor as a warning shot.
        
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        February 26, 2025 5:44pm
    - Countrygirl
      
      I always wonder whether spray paint would work.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:17pm
      - Taieri
        
        CO2 fire extinguisher works very well.
        
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        February 26, 2025 1:20pm
      - cmm
        
        Spraypaint is designed to mist. You really want something that holds together and has a bit of range.
        If you drilled the nozzle out a bit it might squirt a bit further.
        
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        February 26, 2025 3:49pm
      - Countrygirl
        
        If they got it in the eyes it might do something to slow them down.
        
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        February 26, 2025 9:36pm
    - GJM
      
      Submit to that effect on the Arms Act review on now. Last day 5his Friday.
      
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      February 26, 2025 9:58pm
  - alwyn.a
    
    What happens if they just happen to get it wrong and they kill someone who they “thought” was going to rob them?
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:02pm
    - PurplePen
      
      Court trial will resolve this and it will be a lose lose ending for all involved.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:46pm
    - David Garrett
      
      How can you “get it wrong” if some prick enters ur shop holding a screwdriver let alone a knife? Do u ever go shopping with a screwdriver in ur hand? NO, I thought not.
      
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      February 26, 2025 1:49pm
    - kowtow
      
      ‘Harry Callahan.Yeah, well, when an adult male is chasing a female with intent to commit rape, I shoot the bastard – that’s my policy.
      The Mayor: Intent? How’d you establish that?
      Harry Callahan: When a naked man is chasing a woman through a dark alley with a butcher knife and a hard on, I figure he isn’t out collecting for the Red Cross.’
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:26pm
    - Ehlana
      
      Yes, that may well happen. In which case we do what we would do in any case where someone dies at the hand of another.
      Police investigate, charges are laid and a Judge and jury decide whether it was murder, or manslaughter, or something else.
      And just like it is now, sometimes they will find someone not guilty because of [reasons], or the person will be found guilty, but receive a light sentence because [reasons]. And some people will be outraged by that, and some will say that “you have to understand”.
      
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      February 26, 2025 5:00pm
      - GJM
        
        There is an exception to the process you have outlined. If the police shoot some one, including a passing courier driver, they investigate and declare themselves innocent.
        In the case of the public, it goes to court to punish the person for committing self defence. Even having a nutter in the shop attacking you isn’t sufficient reason,.
        
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        February 26, 2025 10:05pm
  - 70andstilllearning
    
    Interesting to see that RNZ was on to it pretty quick smart finding a naysayer from the retailing sector.
    
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/543012/expanded-citizen-s-arrest-powers-to-be-announced
    According to Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young they have:
    “grave concerns about proposals to empower people to physically restrain or physically engage with people to stop them doing a crime”
    Seems that she doesn’t agree with the view of the chair of the ministerial advisory group (Sunny Kaushal) and some small businesses but would rather it all be done with high tech stuff (facial recognition) and trespass enforcement. Wonder if she doesn’t care too much about the “small” businesses they represent, or is it something else …….
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:29pm
    - PurplePen
      
      Relying on the local constabulary and town-folk was probably OK 200 years ago in small villages. Locals would unlikely commit such crimes as everyone would know who it was. But with bigger towns and cities and larger populations it’s easy to be a stranger. So the local constabulary doesn’t really exist or is permanently overwhelmed and anonymity of a perp is easy. Citizen self defence and arrest is the only solution.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:51pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        Carolyn Young may not be a DEI hire, but she is certainly a feminist, wishing to impose feminising safety at all costs mantra on everyone else, but will not be affected herself.
        Yes, we are an emasculated society.
        
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        February 26, 2025 3:36pm
      - cmm
        
        200 years ago, people carried pistols and dirks with the full understanding that robbery could earn you a pistol ball in the guts – followed by infection and death.
        
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        February 26, 2025 3:51pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      I’m guessing that it’s been a long time since Carolyn Young has served behind the counter of a dairy.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:53pm
  - sungsamning
    
    And maybe pepper spray, and cuffs for security guards. With appropriate training.
    
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    February 26, 2025 2:31pm
- cmm
  
  I am very much in favour of increasing the citizens’ rights to self defence, property defence etc and citizens’ arrest fits right into that.
  
  That said, I really don’t think “the system” is using the current tools they have to the maximum effectiveness.
  
  Yesterday we had a house fire in our street. The house is “known to the police” and 7 cop cars with 9 cops turned up immediately with the first fire engine (of the 5 that turned up).
  
  Yet when we report stolen cars or vehicle break ins in the same street zero cops show up.
  
  So what is going to happen when you perform a citizen’s arrest and then call the cops? Will they come pick up the perp or just tell you to let him go?
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:13am
  - imalwaysright
    
    I remember a member of the public, who restrained a crim until the cops arrived, was told by the cops that he is lucky they don’t charge him with assault and kidnap.
    This petty officiousness is one reason why people are reluctant to step in.
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:36am
  - PeeJay
    
    Seem to recall there was some tradies and a business owner that stopped someone in Christchurch a while back (think 2023 or so) and when the call went through to the cops they were told to let the guy go as no cops could be spared to attend.
    
    As always with laws, putting something on the books means diddly squat unless it’s going to be enforced.
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:48am
    - GJM
      
      Been a few cases recently of stolen motor bikes where the police have been their usual incompetent and lazy selves, despite gps trackers, witnesses etc. In some cases, the 9wners tooled up with some mates and retrieved their property, against the recommendations of the police. FTP.
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:13pm
  - cmm
    
    My weapon of choice would be a sjambok.
    
    This is a short, still stock whip.
    
    While it is very unlikely to be lethal, a single hit with that will cause debilitating pain that will stop almost all attacks and cause the perp to reconsider options.
    
    It can split skin, break a wrist or so, but about the only way it could kill someone is a very powerful man vigorously attacking a very frail person or child.
    
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    February 26, 2025 3:58pm
    - cmm
      
      bah! stiff stock whip.
      
      These days they are made out of plastic, but the traditional sjambok was made out of the inch-thick hide of a hippo or rhino.
      
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPQzC877O6Q
      
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      February 26, 2025 5:22pm
    - rockape
      
      Mine is a gas operated twin shot spear gun.
      
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      February 26, 2025 6:22pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  The power of arrest needs to go to security guards as well. They can not stop a thief with a trolley load and the crims know it.
  Waste of time being there.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:34am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    I presume it will cover security guards, this policy has been worked on by Kershal and he will hate the fact security guards are neutered
    
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    February 26, 2025 10:48am
  - PurplePen
    
    If the value of goods stolen is greater than $1,000 they can and they can also stop someone if it’s in the hours of 11pm to 6am irrespective of the value. I might have the hours wrong, but it’s something like that
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:54pm
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  I hear Hipkins today being an expert of citizen arrest saying it will fail, it is a gash of a mixture of old policy, god this guy is a divk
  
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  February 26, 2025 10:47am
  - kowtow
    
    He should know .
    
    Wasn’t he once arrested at a parliament grounds protest . His appeal being at least part of establishing the right for protesters to be on the parlaiment grounds …….
    
    ……which his govt then ignored when they set the police on peaceful protesters during the scamdemic.
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:49am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  It’s fine for owner-operators, but if any employee gets injured attempting an arrest you can be sure the resulting Worksafe investigation will impose crushing penalties that discourage employers from using this law after that.
  
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  February 26, 2025 12:16pm
  - cmm
    
    Worksafe needs a slap around the gills.
    
    Any injury, to anyone, during the commission of a crime falls on one person’s head – the crims.
    
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    February 26, 2025 5:36pm
cmm

Yesterday I saw a car with a bumper sticker that read:
“I fuck retarded amputee midgets”.

Who would stick that on their car?

Even a bigger question is this: Who would think there’s a solid business plan making those stickers?

Someone must have woken up with the idea “Hey I know what I’ll do. I’ll make bumper stickers to corner the unserved market of the proud retarded amputee midget fucker community. I’ll make a killing!”
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February 26, 2025 8:15am
- Suze Wainwright
  
  If they were wanting to promote their message as a TV programme, they’d probably get NZ on Air funding but they’d need to translate the message in te Reo first…
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:26am
  - Paulus
    
    And get Political Editor Maiki Sherman to front it as long as it is aganst the elected Government.
    
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    February 26, 2025 2:45pm
- kowtow
  
  There’s a fairly sizeable underclass here .
  
  I’ve seen a bumper sticker with an image of Jesus and the logo being “Jesus is my airbag” or some such .
  
  Again , one must question the ‘Look at me” mentality of displaying it and as you say of production thereof.
  
  Either way the proudly public display of such vulgarity being indicative of the decline of civility in our society .
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:27am
  - David Garrett
    
    Kowtow: I cant be sure, but i think you might have misinterpreted the Jesus one. Could it not be a statement that airbags aren’t necessary because they have Jesus to protect them?
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:08am
    - Tarquin North
      
      You may find this hard to believe David, but when we were young blokes we always used to have assorted religious stickers on the back of our cars. Cops never pull over christians – far too boring! Best camouflage idea we ever had.
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:22am
      - David Garrett
        
        Tarquin: Good Lord! Never thought of that one.
        
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        February 26, 2025 11:11am
      - MCōs
        
        How do you think Destiny Church gets away with its strong arm tactics?
        ‘Jesus told me to do it, officer’
        
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        February 26, 2025 11:26am
      - Ghost
        
        Who is this Mexican guy, his name seems to be plastered everywhere.
        
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        February 26, 2025 11:29am
    - kowtow
      
      Yeah I’m not sure , but Idda thunk a serious Christian wouldn’t bother .
      
      Likewise the car it was on looked like it belonged in a wrecker’s yard rather than down at the Revival hall.
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:25am
    - G152
      
      Oh please can we watch that happen.
      I promise to keep my laugh down to snigger level.
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:25am
  - Colville
    
    I have a Jesus Loves UK Garage Tee shirt …
    
    My diesel utes bumper sticker is from TPU..
    
    A set of hairy gonads with “Tax these!”
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:27am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Who? The low level of intelligence from being dumbed down.
  
  See, when you are dead you don’t know you are dead, it’s just the people around you who suffer. It is the same when you are stupid.
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:36am
  - cmm
    
    Well it was a Yarris with racing striped down the side…
    
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    February 26, 2025 8:42am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Yarris?
      A seven seater then….
      
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      February 26, 2025 8:55am
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  Sounds like a retarded driver trying to keep it in the family.
  
  However, there are also some really good bumper stickers. I like the one that says “I identify as an EV” on the bumper of an 8 cylinder Cadillac gas guzzler.
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:37am
- 7kiwi11
  
  No doubt there will be a new stripe on the rainbow flag coming soon to represent this niche minority aka the RAMF Community
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:46am
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    Its not a lifestyle choice you know, some people were born RAMFs don’t be a bigot!!!
    
    #RAMFshaming
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:09am
    - Paulus
      
      I though a RAM was a huge US motor ute.
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:47pm
- unaha-closp
  
  I’ll make prank stickers and make a killing
  
  Stick them on your friends car and wait for the reaction. How long till they notice? Do they need a new nick name?
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:03am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Stick a National sticker on the bumper of a known Labour supporter and wait for the meltdown!
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:49am
    - kowtow
      
      The piss take ones are more common than the driver/owner realises.
      
      I’ve seen the likes of Oil Free or No Fracking etc
      
      on the dirtiest , beatup old dungers that your classic Green hippie has been type can afford rattling along belching smoke ……..
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:29am
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        Yes, their 1970 Datsun 120Y!!
        
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        February 26, 2025 10:46am
- the deity formerly known as nigel6888
  
  yes, presumably it is Guy Williams, or some similar “comedian” being edgy?
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:08am
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  There’s a car driving round Wellington with the numberplate CRET1N
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:25am
  - MCōs
    
    I’ve never see a number plate HUMBLE
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:31am
  - Colville
    
    There is a chick in Palmy with the numberplate JUGS..
    
    and yes she does!
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:36am
    - Observer of Life
      
      Years ago I saw a plate: MMPSUX
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:02pm
  - kowtow
    
    I’ve heard of Crown cars , but didn’t know there was a Wellington mayoral car.
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:52am
- Phronesis
  
  I used to regularly park behind a car with a number of bumper stickers. The most creative one read “My other ride is your daughter”.
  
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  February 26, 2025 10:27am
  - Paulus
    
    Had that one in London on the back of our open Austin 7 in 1960 approx – down Moorgate at 9am.
    Caused many laughs.
    
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    February 26, 2025 2:50pm
  - Ehlana
    
    I prefer “My other car is a broomstick”
    
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    February 27, 2025 8:08am
- PurplePen
  
  Could be from an online print your own business much like there is for tee-shirts.
  
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  February 26, 2025 12:58pm
Fender

https://lionessofjudah.substack.com/p/wealthy-french-businessman-died-from?

Unbelievable…

Wealthy French Businessman Died From the Covid-19 Vaccine – but Life Insurance Company DENIES PAYOUT, Citing Voluntary Suicide by Experimental Jab
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February 26, 2025 8:17am
- imalwaysright
  
  Yes, heard a few years ago that most life insurance doesn’t cover participation in drug trials. Fair enough, why should they assume the risk for untested drugs?
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:43am
- peterwn
  
  Generally life insurance companies will not cover suicide if this occurs within 12 – 13 months or so of the policy being taken out. This is for fairly obvious reasons and is a reasonable compromise.
  Presumably in this French case the deceased took out his policy within a year of his demise or the insurance company will not pay out in the case of suicides.
  Seems the company has not thought this through properly, perhaps a senior manager was a strong anti-vaxxer. If a cancer patient dies while receiving chemotherapy, no one would say he has committed suicide. Similarly if someone dies after refusing medical treatment no one would say they committed suicide. The same should apply to Covid vaccinations, there is a very slight chance of death taking the vaccine, but a greater chance of death by not taking it (especially for an older person with health issues). It is not whether the vaccine companies are ‘at fault’, since regulatory agencies would have approve the vaccines. The companies and agencies acted in good faith together to make the best of a bad situation and the insurance company should have respected this.
  I had better add the usual advice that anyone possibly influenced by this posting should not hesitate to contact The Samaritans (0800 72 66 66) or a similar organisation and have a chat with them.
  
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  February 26, 2025 10:04am
- Liberty
  
  If we recall at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dear Leader Ardern had…
  
  Her disciples were engulfed in a frenzied hysteria.
  
  You will place a teddy bear in the window.
  
  You will report your neighbors to the authorities if they are flouting COVID regulations.
  
  You will receive a vaccination from the state.
  
  Or you will be unemployable.
  
  You will wear a mask at all times, Even when driving alone with the windows up.
  
  Yes, you will look like a nerd.
  
  That is how it is.
  
  The leaders of Aotearoa, France, and Canada were all of the same ilk.
  
  The judge is in a difficult position with his ruling.
  
  Life during that period was hardly voluntary.
  
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  February 26, 2025 11:49am
  - peterwn
    
    The vaccine was approved by overseas regulatory agencies – I was referring to the general situation, not NZ’s particular situation. Anyway NZ courts have upheld the Government’s decisions concerning COVID vaccine and the need for public safety of patients etc.
    
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    February 26, 2025 2:50pm
Grunter

Trump is moving fast with Putin, and Zelenskyy. Looks like he is doing mineral deals with both of them. The Europeans are being left in the dust. The USA also talking about joint business deals with Russian Aluminium smelters etc.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/putin-says-major-deals-discussed-us-while-dangling-russian-rare-earth-mineral-access

In a wide-ranging new interview with Russia 1 TV, President Vladimir Putin touted that his country is in talks with the United States over cooperating on “major” joint economic projects. Trump seems to be confirming that these discussions are in fact underway.

Trump in a Truth Social post also revealed that major “economic development transactions which will take place between the US and Russia” are in the works. He said that ongoing discussions are “proceeding very well” — coming off last week’s bilateral Riyadh talks led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov.
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February 26, 2025 8:20am
- artemisia
  
  Hmmm, New Zealand could do mineral deals with New Zealand. If allowed to.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:07am
  - Blog-aholic
    
    Once MACA fails Iwi will be doing mineral deals with China…..
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:21am
  - peterwn
    
    Would Greenpeace try to stop seabed mining around Cook Islands etc or do they just pick on easy targets such as NZ?
    
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    February 26, 2025 10:06am
    - G152
      
      Isnt greenpeace currently peeing off a whaling station somewhere
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:29am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Greenpeace has been part of a P.I. collective – The Pacific Blue Line – opposing deep-sea mining for a few years…
      
      https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/press-release/pacific-civil-society-groups-send-clear-message-to-ban-deep-sea-mining/
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:29am
- Gussy Fink-Nottle
  
  But, but…
  An unnamed ‘veteran European diplomat who has dealt with the Russians and the Americans’ told Jermey Bowen of the BBC:
  
  Lavrov would have eaten Rubio “like a soft-boiled egg.”
  
  What does that even mean?
  My contempt for the BBC grows daily.
  
  Link (if you can be arsed):
  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2xngznyego
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:31am
  - kowtow
    
    Have you seen the latest scandal over how they made a ‘documentary’ , cost a fortune on some poor waif from Gaza , who turned out to be a senior Hamas’ operative’s son.
    
    Lies and money laundering is what the Al Beeb peddle .
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:55am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Aluminium. Canada will be pissed off.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:51am
- imalwaysright
  
  “The USA also talking about joint business deals with Russian Aluminium smelters etc.”
  
  Meanwhile in NZ, Tiwai Point aluminium smelter has agreed to reduce production so that the grid doesn’t blow.
  
  This must be what Luxon and Willis meant by Growth, Growth, Growth.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:55am
- Scott
  
  According to reporter Mark Halperin, who is an actual reporter who finds out the facts and reports them, Trump is close to a deal with Russia and Ukraine.
  
  https://youtu.be/78zUZNiUIdI?si=CBN2IkD8EPE5mH7q
  
  If so that would be a good thing. I feel for the people of the Ukraine who want to live in peace after 3 years of war. I also feel for the ordinary Russian. A Russian woman I knew through church had a brother back in Russia who was in hiding to avoid the call up to fight in the Russian army.
  
  So we have solid reporting that Trump is close to a deal. I would like the host of this blog and others in NZ who have been overwhelmingly critical of Trump to reflect on that fact. I would like them to reconsider their view on Trump. I say his first term was good but his second term is looking awesome. He may be the best president in our lifetime.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:56am
  - kowtow
    
    During his “stand up” after the Macron meeting one of the things he did say to the assembled was along the lines of “I’m a deal maker , it’s what I do”.
    
    My guess is that’s how he sees himself , unapologetically . I think it was also by way of , if he was capable of it ,an explanation of his bizarre comments about Zelensky and invasion , (which he may have been privately ticked off for) Dealmaker .
    
    That’s why he bullied Zelensky , that’s why he engaged in such a silly over bearing handshake tug o’ war when he met Macron at the door of the WH and that’s why he’s not being overly critical of Putin ( he needs him at the table to make the deal).
    
    I also now believe he actually does want Canada and Greenland to join the USA ( another deal ) as it would cement his legacy as a great American President.Which given his own rhetoric is how he wants to be remembered.
    
    ( Previously I thought the Canada stuff was just teasing Trudeau)
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:10pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Neither the Canadians nor the Greenlanders will sign up, no matter what incentives Trump offers. And he’s hardly going to threaten them militarily.
      
      However, particularly in the case of Greenland, he may be able to offer military bases, which would likely be attractive if the Chinese or the Russians start wanting to shore up the Northern Passage.
      
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      February 26, 2025 1:01pm
    - Grunter
      
      One ‘Theory’ attempting to understand Trumps geo-political view, is that he sees the world not in an East-to-West way but in a North-to-South way.
      
      What Trump envisages is a powerful ‘Great America’ that includes Canada, Greenland, and possibly Panama. He would also want to see strong allies in South America – Argentina being the obvious one. He wants to clean up the Latin American mess south of the border.
      
      That kind of makes sense of his random statements.
      
      If you accept that as his vision, you can also understand his sudden ditching of Europe.
      
      It also means NZ & Aust are kind of ‘leftovers’ – where do we fit…..? Where does Japan fit?
      
      If nothing else, this is an interesting perspective to consider.
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:23pm
      - kowtow
        
        Grunter
        
        The first head of govt at his WH was the japanese pm.
        
        That got very little msm coverage .
        
        Big deals discussed especially around LNG .
        
        No doubt defence was on the agenda.
        
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        February 26, 2025 3:50pm
- Cassandra
  
  Deal with Ukraine now done, just announced.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:58am
  - sungsamning
    
    I hope you ditched the Raytheon, and Boeing stocks in good time. -;)
    
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    February 26, 2025 2:42pm
- Waipuk
  
  The US have to extract themselves from the Ukraine/Russia conflict asap as they have to focus on the potential China/Taiwan conflict. Ie bigger fish to fry.
  
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  February 26, 2025 10:27am
  - MCōs
    
    Why after eighty odd years of standoff has Taiwan suddenly flared up?
    Let me guess
    The People’s Republic of China senses America won’t defend The Republic of China in a conflict
    After all these years
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:47am
    - kowtow
      
      Cos a few years ago Xi told his armed forces to prepare for war .
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:11pm
    - Gussy Fink-Nottle
      
      True. After all these years, China is:
      • far more prepared,
      • vastly more capable,
      • and, under, Xi Jinping, considerably more willing.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:14pm
      - kowtow
        
        I came across a you tube clip about HMAS Melbourne , Majestic class light aircraft carrier.
        
        Anyway long story short , from wiki. 1985.having been sold to China for scrap.
        
        “The ship was not scrapped immediately; instead she was studied by Chinese naval architects and engineers as part of the nation’s top-secret carrier development program.[3] It is unclear whether the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) orchestrated the acquisition of Melbourne or simply took advantage of the situation; Rear Admiral Zhang Zhaozhong, a staff member at the National Defence College, has stated that the Navy was unaware of the purchase until Melbourne first arrived at Guangzhou.[168] Melbourne was the largest warship any of the Chinese experts had seen, and they were surprised by the amount of equipment which was still in place. The PLAN subsequently arranged for the ship’s flight deck and all the equipment associated with flying operations to be removed so that they could be studied in depth.”
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:44pm
    - Waipuk
      
      Xi Jinping Has said he wants Taiwan back and has not ruled out military action.
      
      So it has to be in Xi Jinping lifetime and he is in his 70s
      
      Chinas population is dropping like a rock so any invasion will have to be sooner than later for the manpower needed.
      
      Economically china is not doing well so the CCP may redirect the populous unhappiness into nationalism by attacking Taiwan.
      
      Chinas military build up which has said it will be ready by 2027. Given the weather patterns there are 2 gaps in 2027. Can’t remember the dates.
      
      It has been suggested more of a blockage than a full out invasion. But china imports most of everything so whatever happens it will have to be quick to stop the US from retaliating or forcing a blockage of its own.
      
      If it is an invasion it will be bag for the Taiwan populous as most of the cities are on their West Coast. But also for china as a likely response (apart from blockage) is blowing up their dams. Drowning millions.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:26pm
      - goNZ1
        
        The only thing that the CCCP is scared of is their own citizens rebelling, e.g 1989 massacre.
        If they attack Taiwan it will wreck their economy properly and irreversibly which will lead to unrest and riots..
        A senior Act MP pointed out to me years ago that no country had ever attacked another that was in a Free Trade Agreement with them. Not sure that applies now we have PLA Navy warships live firing under our noses in the Tasman!
        
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        February 26, 2025 1:49pm
      - NoCash
        
        Chinas population is dropping like a rock so any invasion will have to be sooner than later for the manpower needed.
        
        The population of men in China aged between 20 and 30 yo is around 100 million. I somehow don’t think manpower is a concern as you stated.
        
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        February 26, 2025 2:35pm
      - Keith White
        
        If a Taiwan kamikaze equivalent takes out the Three Gorges Dam as reprisal for Red China’s invasion… Xi will lose the Mandate of Heaven as well as millions of citizens’ lives. That might cement his spot in history the same bloody way as Mao T’s.
        
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        February 26, 2025 4:18pm
    - PurplePen
      
      Worth a read … an opinion on why the PLA will never invade Taiwan.
      
      https://www.google.com/amp/s/sundayguardianlive.com/investigation/chinas-greatest-military-bluff-why-the-pla-will-never-invade-taiwan/amp
      
      And this link from the Council Foreign Relations, has pictures, says much the same.
      
      https://www.cfr.org/article/why-china-would-struggle-invade-taiwan
      
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      February 26, 2025 1:22pm
    - Sir Henry Morgan
      
      Nothing has “suddenly flared up” in relation to China and Taiwan.
      
      China’s ramping up of military exercises, threats, economic coercion, etc. is part of an established pattern starting a decade or so ago. It is about Xi Jinping, not Trump.
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:30pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Conversely, looking at the American deepstate history and their needs for war. How many wars have the Americans started since WW2? Seems its some 30 plus
      https://english.news.cn/20220902/735703a45cfd458791179d4c0a80e727/c.html
      
      Korea
      Vietnam
      Iraq
      Syria
      Kosovo
      Afganistan
      Ukraine. Please dont give me the Russia started it crap. That was the outcome the USA wanted by their well documented coup and the 2014 and subsequent US actions.
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA9qmOIUYJA
      
      China is being set up as a bogey man in the west to give the west a reason to do crazy shit.
      
      The Chinese are the alternative world power to the USA. They don’t send military forces, they use money and influence. Hence, the Cook Islands, Solomon Islands deals.
      
      Hence, the large volume of Anti Chinese BS coming from the USA. IMHO
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:36pm
Yvette

To start each day in a positive way you should think of something to be grateful for.

Thank God that President Donald Trump is not in charge of the Treaty Principles Bill.
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February 26, 2025 8:20am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  The TOW would be DOGEd by now.
  Corruption exposed and stopped.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:53am
  - Scott
    
    Steve Otto – couldn’t agree more. How many more billions of dollars is the poor taxpayer going to have to fork out to settle these treaty claims? Will they ever be over? In our lifetime? In our children’s lifetime?
    
    The land wars began in 1860, that’s 165 years ago. When will we stop paying for the supposed sins of our great great great grandparents? And when will the great great great grandchildren of those supposedly sinned against stop asking for payment? Will they ever be satisfied?
    
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    February 26, 2025 10:02am
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      It’s all about votes. Look at Luxon sucking up.
      He is an activist.
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:47am
      - Quail
        
        SO,
        No it’s about balancing the books.
        It must be hard or impossible to justify any further claims.
        The claim industry must be stopped.
        
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        February 26, 2025 11:45am
    - rouppe
      
      When will we stop paying for the supposed sins of our great great great grandparents?
      
      Not my great great great grandparents or any iteration thereof.
      
      I’m being convicted and fined every year for crimes that had nothing to do with my family lineage.
      
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      February 26, 2025 11:25am
    - Colville
      
      Scott, somewhere between one and two million Ha was stolen during the land wars… the bulk of it the best land in New Zealand. Current value maybe $100 billion plus the 150 years earnings… What % of that has been paid out? 2%?
      Maybe there is a reason the darkies are grumpy??
      
      Remember article three….they got full rights and protections…
      
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      February 26, 2025 11:46am
      - Cantabrian
        
        It would be stupid to base a ‘settlement ‘ on today’s values. And let’s not forget that the value and current earnings are due largely to the investments and activities of ‘whitey’ over those 150 years.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:27pm
      - Eastlander
        
        Nothing was stolen, it was rightfully taken in a war from the side that started that war, which is entirely in accordance with te ao Maori. And that land would be worthless if it had remained in the hands of its bandit owners.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:37pm
    - goNZ1
      
      the Hon Chris Finlayson got the Iwi billions in settlements with more in progress (remember Full & Final theory !!). Nats did far more for Maori than any other govt in NZ history, so surely they would be grateful?
      hello ? hello?
      
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      February 26, 2025 1:54pm
    - PurplePen
      
      Don’t mind the settlements. It’s the taxpayer funding all manner of Maori run schemes, organisations and scams that don’t actually improve the affected “some maori’s” lot that I don’t like. They are all unnecessary and all have nothing to do with the ToW in a much that the ToW gave Maori the same rights and duties as everyone else.
      
      But also, it’s a little unfair for the British government to lump generations of innocent NZers with the British bill for their wrong-doings.
      
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      February 26, 2025 1:59pm
    - Paulus
      
      The longer Ngapuhi delay they say the more money they will get.
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:54pm
- Waipuk
  
  Not just that. It is clipping the ticket everywhere you turn.
  
  Special people in local authorities and government depts just to check that TOW is complied with, liaison with local iwi, any Moari that comes into contact with a dept has a contact point.
  
  Any project big and small paying the local iwi to get approval or to stop any objections. From adding a room to your house to generating electricity.
  
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  February 26, 2025 10:37am
- Yvette
  
  Myself – Thank God that President Donald Trump is not in charge of the Treaty Principles Bill
  
  Well, yes – I should have thought about expressing myself better. Sorry about that …
  
  I kind of meant the Bill could have gone more the way of Trump supporting Russia at the UN, and they would be asking Maori in regard to the Treaty what else they wanted. They would have asked Ngai Tahu to give them more thoughts on their “ongoing” complete and final settlement system.
  
  Again, beg you pardon …
  
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  February 26, 2025 10:42am
  - RoboRob
    
    I wish Trump was in charge of the TOW principals bill, it would all be sorted by now.
    
    With the gender issue in the US he said
    There are 2, male and female. Suck it up buttercups.
    
    With The TOW he would have said there are three, Maori handed rule to the crown, Maori treated the same as all other citizens of the crown, Maori got to keep their assets, as known, at the time. Now lets move on and make NZ great for everyone again.
    
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    February 26, 2025 1:31pm
Frank the tank

It is now clear Wokeborg (i.e. the NZ swamp) has won the battle with the government.

There is a gap in the market for either NZ First or Act (or another entity) to become a populist, right wing values party and be in the 20’s come 2026.
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February 26, 2025 8:23am
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Battle? Any “battle” between the swamp and the Nats is as fake as Bigtime Wrestling. Paul Goldsmith wants the Broadcasting Standards Authority to have control of internet platforms in NZ: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/541629/government-releases-proposals-to-level-media-playing-field
  Any conservative who’s lodged a complaint with the BSA knows they’re woke AF. As for the much-vaunted Erica Stanford, not only has she failed to remove maatauranga from the science curriculum, but Rodney Hide has pointed out she’s also showing little enthusiasm for removing radical gender ideology. Perhaps not surprising, considering Stanford’s enthusiasm for Pride Marches https://www.national.org.nz/youngnats
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:38am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  There will still always be the diehards who will vote National because mum and dad did.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:56am
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    And THAT, Steve Otto takes the cake as the saddest post today. Sad because it is 100% correct.
    
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    February 26, 2025 10:07am
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      Must have hit a nerve – look at the downticks!
      Downticks mean you are right over the target according to one commenter here.
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:49am
      - Northshoredoc
        
        No downticks from me you’re 100% correct.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:35pm
  - Ghost
    
    There will always be diehards who vote any party.
    
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    February 26, 2025 10:30am
    - MCōs
      
      At least 10% at a guess and another 10%min who will despise any politician of an opposite ideology regardless of who they are
      
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      February 26, 2025 8:16pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Steve : It is no different with Labour die-hards. My late brother – a typical chardonnay socialist – proudly voted Labour throughout his life, no matter what kind of mess they made of things.
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:17am
    - MCōs
      
      In NZ there are parties representing a wide variety of political viewpoints from the left to the right and points between.
      Likewise Kiwis tend to have their own niche on the spectrum.
      You’d think, therefore, if you believe that and that you’d vote to for a particular party.
      Of course it doesn’t work that way if that party is represented by dickheads
      
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      February 26, 2025 8:35pm
  - Sacha
    
    @ Steve Otto N Shore:
    
    There will still always be the diehards who will vote Labour because mum and dad did.
    
    Get it?
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:14pm
    - Countrygirl
      
      Now you can see the problem with stopping child abuse. Mum and Dad did it, therefore so will I.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:40pm
    - Gravelroad
      
      My late dad grew up in a traditional, law abiding working class family in Christchurch. His mother was a professional seamstress and his father was a stone mason. Education for their four children was everything to them.
      They voted Labour.
      Then Mr Muldoon came along with his superannuation scheme.
      Dad voted National after that.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:49pm
Cassandra

UK PM Starmer is off to see Pres Trump soon. He’s just announced that the UK will increase its defence budget from its current 2.3% to 2.5% in 2027. A piddling amount but in the right direction. I note that 3 is the new target for everybody and that the usual suspects (Bob Jones and Rob Campbell and not so long ago Don Brash) are arguing for 0%. The disappointing thing is that a significant proportion of NZ voters agree with them. Fortunately the current leadership of the Labour Party has resisted that siren call, to the point of advocating an Antarctic suitable ship. Luxon’s “as close to 2% as possible” will not wash unless it’s 1.99% and then he might get away with it for a year or two. Because of the skimping over the last 40 years (National cancelled the other two frigates) we’re looking at a minimum 2.5% from now on.
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February 26, 2025 8:30am
- Simon
  
  Wellington Clown Show military boat crashed into a reef less than six months ago. The have largely kept the whole incident secret. Now the same Clown Show wants to piss away $8 billion annually on military. Insane.
  
  Labo want an ice breaker. There is no ice within NZ waters. A reef breaker might work instead.
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:41am
  - Ipanema69
    
    The idea of an icebreaker is not a bad one. One punciple for a small country is to develop capabilities that your allies find useful.
    
    The idea of the NZ Navy operating an icebreaking capability alongside an antartic patrol function is a good one.
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:51am
    - rouppe
      
      We should not be spending money on equipment that is not going to be used 95% of the time. An icebreaker fits into that category, as does a fast jet strike wing.
      
      Arm the equipment we have.
      
      By the way, Chris Hipkins and labour calling for an icebreaker when they’ve spent decades telling us the Antarctic is melting and collapsing is unbelievable. And no one calls him on it.
      
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      February 26, 2025 11:31am
    - Grunter
      
      We’re contemplating war on Antarctica now? Those penguins look big and mean…….or are there other enemy down there we need to waste millions of $’s on?//
      
      This is why we shouldn’t just say “spend 2% on defence”. It’s the cart before the horse…..
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:30pm
- kowtow
  
  I get the feeling that all the heat and hype directed towards Trump ( for all his faults) is like a collective tantrum as the children have realised they’re going to have to take responsibilty for their own circumstances and short term stupid decisions .They can no longer get away with having the American taxpayer , and soldier, paying for and dying for their comfortable lifestyles and collective refusal to stand on their own feet and allow their continent to go down the shitter.
  
  Note how the likely new German Chancellor has been forced to face reality , after the Merkel / Sholtz years .
  
  Si vis pacem, para bellum.
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:49am
- 7kiwi11
  
  The UK may well struggle to find the recruits needed for larger armed military force.
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:55am
  - kowtow
    
    Especially when as one commenter put it about Starmer ;
    
    ‘his instinct is more aligned to suing the army than deploying it”.
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:04am
  - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
    
    Yes, join the army, but:
    
    1) don’t wear your uniform in the street in case an enraged muslim, New Briton(tm) beheads you; and
    2) get paid shit money and have sub-standard and unsafe kit
    3) expect to be prosecuted by the police and public prosecution service for the rest of your life for “war crimes”.
    
    Yes that sounds like a really attractive career choice
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:13am
    - kowtow
      
      Deity
      
      back in the Gulf War days , the govt , having closed military hospitals and any number of other downsizings ( both parties) were sending members of the armed forces to NHS hospitals , where they were told to hide their occupational status as they wouldn’t be safe , in hospitals ,in the UK !
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:33pm
  - cmm
    
    Again, it comes down to what you want to achieve with your troops.
    
    If you want a purely defensive force then the training levels are lower and you do not need high levels of fitness etc. ie you can use more “Dad’s Army” end troops.
    
    If you want to take a force overseas to attack others then you need much more fit, younger troops with excellent training on more sophisticated and more expensive equipment.
    
    I think there is often a problem due to trying to make a one-size-fits-all military that can do both and thus training people up for everyone.
    
    This suggests that there is maybe a solid case for splitting the military into two main forces:
    1) Conscription to train all citizens for local home shores defence. Train them for defence doctrines.
    2) A standing army/military of professional soldiers for expeditionary capability. Train them on the more complex requirements of attack doctrines.
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:32am
  - kowtow
    
    I understand there were more ‘British’ and “Australian’ citizens of a certain religious persuasion in ISIS in the ME at one point than were serving in the Armed Forces of those countries.
    
    So there are elements in the west who are very willing and able to take up arms………..
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:11am
- Cassandra
  
  I should add that the extra for defence is coming from the overseas aid budget and that Starmer’s aim is 3% in the next Parliament ie 2030. The left wing of the Labour Party will not be happy but Starmer is getting praise in, wait for it, this morning’s Daily Telegraph!
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:57am
  - alex Masterley
    
    I read the Telegraph this morning, and frankly when i read that piece my gob was smacked.
    Ambrose Pritchard-Evans piece on the economic effect of the trumpian revolution was depressing though.
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:04am
    - kowtow
      
      Reading APE will do that .
      I gave up on him when he started pushing green hydrogen iirc .
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:35am
- cmm
  
  There are really three questions:
  1) How much do you spend?
  2) What do you spend it on? (ie. getting bang for bucks)
  3) Where do you spend it?
  
  Military equipment can be either expensive or obscenely expensive.
  
  The amount of protection you get for each dollar spent can vary wildly depending on doctrine. If you focus on defence, rather than expeditionary/attack expenditure then there can be up to a 10x difference.
  
  And, lastly one of the biggest factors is where you spend it.
  
  For example, looking at just artillery howitzers. You can buy extremely expensive M777 howitzers and other USA/UK offerings with a crap range or the Rheinmetall howitzers, cheaper with double the range.
  
  When it comes to artillery, range is everything. One long range howitzer is worth 10 short range. That multiplier effect applies down the chain too:
  * One shell supplied to a long range howitzer is worth 10 shells supplied to a short range howitzer.
  * One crew trained to fire a long range howitzer is worth 10 crews trained to fire short range howitzers.
  * One factory making shells for a long range howitzer is worth 10 factories…
  * One truck delivering ammo is worth 10 trucks…
  
  Such logistical leverage is well understood, but is seldom featured in political soundbites.
  
  Due to all the pork-barreling they tend to end up buying the expensive crap because it looks better on spreadsheets.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:00am
  - David Garrett
    
    Cmm: You are a man who should know the answer to this one: when you see footage of soldiers firing a mortar, they just keep putting the rounds down the barrel without changing the angle of the tabe.
    
    Presumably that means the bombs will all be landing in the same place, or near enough to it. Surely those on the receiving end just need to move out of the way to avoid getting killed or injured? Please explain.
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:18am
    - Cassandra
      
      I’ll explain. The mortar is an area weapon. Its bombs have a blast area and it’s not accurate. The crew will adjust on the instructions of an observer, either an MFC (mortar fire controller) or the infantry commander who requested the mission. I think we’re still using the same technology I used when I was an instructor at the School of Inf!
      
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      February 26, 2025 9:41am
      - David Garrett
        
        Cass: thanks for that; I assumed it was as accurate as an artillery piece, but obviously not.
        
        While you are at it, how does a howitzer differ from a mortar? Both in design and effect?
        
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        February 26, 2025 10:01am
      - cmm
        
        DG: In principle a howitzer and a mortar are both forms of artillery and are both area weapons.
        They are both used in indirect fire (typically) – ie you are not shooting direct line of sight at a target, but are firing upwards so that the shell falls on the target – maybe behind a ridge or such – some distance away.
        
        While they are very similar on a theoretical basis, they are very different in their usage because the scales and deployment requirements are different.
        
        Mortars are generally lighter, less accurate (larger CEP) and fire smaller bombs and are for shorter range.
        
        Mortars are often carried by a mortar team. A howitzer is many tons.
        
        The bread and butter of mortars is the 81mm mortar. 2 men can carry the tube and base plate. Each bomb weighs about 4 to 5kg and the max useful range is around 3.5km.
        
        The bread and butter of howitzers is the 155mm. That is many tons and, depending on various factors, can lob a standard 45kg shell 20+km (or over 40km for some guns).
        
        The howitzer shells travel a long distance and fly high into the atmosphere. You need to deploy weather balloons etc to get good accuracy. Ammo is heavy, so they need large trucks etc carrying ammo.
        
        That improved accuracy costs a lot in equipment costs (support equipment, guns and ammo) as well as training. Training up a mortar crew is way easier than a howitzer crew.
        
        Clearly deploying a mortar is far easier and is thus considered much more mobile and agile, but there is nothing quite like the howitzers for reach and effectiveness (though missiles are eating into that space).
        
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        February 26, 2025 10:55am
      - All_on_Red
        
        There is a very good film on Netflix called ‘The Siege of Jadotville’ where Mortars are used and show their effectiveness
        Great story too
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Siege_of_Jadotville_(film)
        
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        February 26, 2025 1:09pm
      - rockape
        
        Is that the UK School of Inf ? I was a young officer on Platoon Commanders Division course no 1. That was an actual lifetime ago like 56 years !
        
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        February 26, 2025 1:11pm
    - cmm
      
      DG: I want to first say that I have no mortar training at all. Nor do I have any artillery training, but I do have some involvement in artillery support.
      
      You might think that what you see is pure waste, but trust me – those mortarmen will not waste ammo. That is not because of the cost (not out of their pockets), but because they have often carried those mortar bombs miles and they’re bloody heavy, so every mortar is very precious.
      
      While mortars are aimed, they are not very accurate (compared to rifle fire or artillery). In technical terms mortars have a relatively high circular error probable (CEP). That means you do not so much fire at a point, but into an area.
      
      Mortars are mainly intended for indirect fire – hitting an enemy behind cover such as hills or ridges – at ranges out to 3km or so.
      
      If the enemy is in an area then you want to pump in a few rounds. Each might have a kill radius of maybe 15 or so metres. That is the radius in which there is a 50% chance of being killed/severely maimed if you are not behind cover.
      
      Thus often, the first few shots might be ranging/aiming shots followed by “fire for effect” (ie firing many round of ammo into the same area).
      
      Similar concepts are also used in artillery with big guns too but the numbers are different (bigger bang, lower CEP, etc). Mortars are really just a different form of artillery.
      
      The second main point is that the enemy are often dug in and an individual mortar bomb is relatively ineffective and more rounds increase the probability. People in trenches pop their heads up etc making for an intermittent target.
      
      The third main point is that most rifle fire and a lot of shorter range mortar fire is done for suppression purposes – not to directly kill enemy. In other words, pin the enemy down, make them keep their heads down. This is normally done as part of some other tactic – Fire and movement:
      * Keep the enemy pinned down and unable to shoot back while you outflank them and move to a more desirable attacking position.
      * Keeping the enemy pinned down and unable to shoot back while you disengage and retreat.
      
      I am sure that if you spoke to a well trained mortarman he could keep you enthralled for hours.
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_error_probable
      
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      February 26, 2025 10:05am
      - David Garrett
        
        Thanks to both cmm and Cass for increasing my knowledge – as happens every day I come here!
        
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        February 26, 2025 10:23am
      - cmm
        
        DG: You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.
        
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        February 26, 2025 10:55am
      - Cassandra
        
        Howitzer comes from haubitze, German for sling or basket (says W). And I’d define the 105 as more howitzer than the 155. 155 is a medium gun in NZ – and we haven’t mediums since the 1960s.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:46pm
      - rockape
        
        Mortars are of course rarely fired alone. You usually get the services of a mortar line, at least 4 mortars. I remember doing an experiment, just for fun, on the Caterick Ranges to see how many bombs we could get in the air before the first on exploded. Using supercharge we got 13 in the air from on mortar. Of course they don’t just go bang, We used white phosphorus for smoke and anti personnel plus when on a war footing had access to chemical rounds.
        
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        February 26, 2025 1:25pm
      - cmm
        
        Cass: I would think 105 would now be classified as a light howitzer. As I understand it, NZ uses the L119. Is that correct?
        
        That would be fine in many infantry support roles, and gives high mobility, but the 17km range leaves you a bit short in artillery vs artillery conflict.
        
        The gun history I am most familiar with is South Africa’s. In 1975, South Africa got sucked in to the Angolan conflict (thanks America!). At that time, South Africa’s big guns were ex WW2 5.5 inch (140mm) medium guns with a range of 16km or so.
        
        That was problematic when faced with the Cuban guns with a range of around 27km.
        
        That is what spurred on SA’s development of its own longer range G5 and G6 155mm guns. These guns became available in the early 1980s and are still world leaders 45 years later. Range is out to 40km with standard ammo – 50km+ with base bleed. With the newer 52 calibre version the max range is over 70km.
        
        It was quite a remarkable development: in 7 years from the original declaration of intent, the SA arms industry developed both a towed gun (G5) and a self-propelled gun (G6) as well as all the support infrastructure (modular ammo, new gunnery tables and artillery computers, weather monitoring equipment etc).
        
        Having those assets on your side gives you a formidable advantage, but they are heavy buggers and nowhere near as mobile as the 105s.
        
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        February 26, 2025 3:45pm
    - Cassandra
      
      A howitzer is an artillery piece, with all the qualities – range, technology, accuracy, flexibility – of that. Mortars are relatively simple, although both work on the same principle of high elevation to get their range. And they can fire into dead ground ie over a ridge.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:41pm
  - Grunter
    
    And,
    4. Where does the money come from? Tax, Debt, cost-cutting……or all 3?
    
    I say until you can answer all 4 questions, AND get rid of DEI in the NZ armed forces, then we spend $0
    
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    February 26, 2025 9:19am
- imalwaysright
  
  NZ doesn’t have a defense force, they are basically just for show.
  The Chinese cruiser could fire a single missile from over the horizon and land it anywhere they want to.
  
  Our biggest defensive asset is the speed with which we can surrender.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:30am
  - cmm
    
    Do not confuse aggression with defence.
    
    Our biggest defensive asset is that we are of very little strategic value to anyone and it is not worth deploying assets on us. Or as the Americans say: The juice ain’t worth the squeeze.
    
    I think we could improve that situation by focusing on a low-cost defence-only policy along Swiss lines. Make a hornets’ nest. Then the juice really ain’t worth the squeeze.
    
    We have to recognise that making a useful attacking force is way beyond anything we can do. Are we going to build a carrier battle group? At best we can tag along in Aussie’s entourage.
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:01am
    - imalwaysright
      
      I like the idea of the Swiss model, unfortunately I wouldn’t trust a fair number of our population with a weapon of any description.
      We would rapidly become preoccupied with self defense rather than national defense.
      
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      February 26, 2025 11:43am
      - cmm
        
        That Swiss model is focused on self-defence of the nation – not individual self defence.
        
        ” I wouldn’t trust a fair number of our population with a weapon of any description.”
        
        Well that’s where conscription and proper training come it. You don’t just hand over a rifle and 100 rounds at every house. You train the people in proper military discipline (including lots of push ups and detention barracks if need be) and proper firearms training. You do retraining shoots every year (a week end every year or whatever).
        
        I would not go with the Swiss model of keeping firearms in every house. I don’t think we need that.
        
        The Swiss border on 4 or 5 (maybe more) different countries. There is potential that they could be attacked in minutes. Thus their model is built around having firearms instantly available.
        
        We would have at least some warning. At least an hour or two. We could keep firearms in distributed armouries (eg. attached to police stations). In the event of an alert, each trained person dresses in their uniform and musters at the armoury to draw their weapon and be assigned their duties.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:03pm
      - Cassandra
        
        Switzerland and NZ are vastly different countries. The Swiss have a unique situation in the world which we cannot emulate.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:49pm
kiwimike

IWI will own the Foreshore & Seabed by then if Mr Luxon carries on his way.
So the Chinese will need to negociate with them.

We deserve all that happens to us by voting for Mr Woke and his woke team.
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February 26, 2025 8:46am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Sold down the river?
  
  And what about Ngai Tahu’s plans to co-govern the Waitaki River – a vital resource of national significance with three hydro-electric dams and five other power stations, as well as a myriad of other water users?
  
  Fresh from its success in securing a $100-million-dollar deal from power generators renewing water rights for their Waitaki River hydro schemes, Ngai Tahu now wants to control the whole River.
  
  Approval to investigate their co-governance proposal was secured from the Otago Regional Council, which has a Ngai Tahu ‘advisory’ board with voting rights – and from the Canterbury Regional Council, with its two Ngai Tahu-appointed Councillors.
  
  https://breakingviewsnz.blogspot.com/2025/02/nzcpr-newsletter-consequences-of.html
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:09am
  - Jack5
    
    Pity that Chris Finlayson wasn’t a quarter as good a politician for National as he was as good as Ngai Tahu head legal man.
    
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    February 26, 2025 10:18am
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      That comments suggests you don’t understand the National Party.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:41pm
      - Jack5
        
        It’s hard to understand the National Party at the moment, Your Holiness.
        
        It seems to be suffering a re- awokening.
        
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        February 26, 2025 11:41pm
  - Burtland
    
    Meridian reports $121M half year loss on increased revenue …
    
    “We took a hit for New Zealand. Meridian put this country’s security of supply first and as New Zealand’s largest renewable electricity generator, our balance sheet tends to underwrite the mitigation of extended droughts, and that’s one of the ways the country benefits from having large and financially strong gentailers.”
    
    or perhaps they shouldnt have given Ngai Tahu $100M for nothing
    
    https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/543019/meridian-reports-121m-half-year-loss
    
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    February 26, 2025 10:24am
    - Damocles11
      
      Who would want to come and invest in NZ? You have to pay the government tax + the maori tax. Hopeless.
      
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      February 26, 2025 5:43pm
  - kowtow
    
    There must be some discrepancy there.
    
    National signed a ‘full and final’ settlement with Ngai Tahu at the tail end of 1990’s. ( the fifth bt all accounts) .
    
    Ngai Tahu won’t therefor be involved in any more extortionate behaviour .
    
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    February 26, 2025 10:42am
    - rouppe
      
      Ngai tahu were smart. They were the first to sign, and at the time there was a settlement “cap”.
      
      They wrote into their settlement that their payout would remain the same percentage of the total payouts as their settlement to the cap.
      
      Naturally, the payouts have blown the cap, so every settlement to someone else means they have to be topped up to the same percentage of the total paid .
      
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      February 26, 2025 11:42am
      - kowtow
        
        Yep the geniuses in National signed the NZ taxpayer up to perpetual top ups . One NI tribe has that too .
        
        Strange how one ot two get it but others not .It’s almost like some are favoured over others.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:21pm
      - Yabster
        
        smart? nah- just took advantage of a weak appeasing Govt- for the fifth time- and they are at it again- fucking disgrace and a millstone around New Zealand’s neck.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:52pm
    - Quail
      
      And also Nga Tahu sold the South Island early on!
      
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      February 26, 2025 11:55am
  - Philview
    
    Also looking likely to win the lease for management of tourism in Milford Sound despite private companies investing heavily in the infrastructure.
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:02am
    - Yabster
      
      its complete bullshit, Ngai Tahu corp Mafia – they have no interest in conservation- the $80m (there portion) shows that- DOC are so ingrained with Iwi it’s ridiculous. If you think National and Potaka (especially) are going to stop this then you are dreaming.
      Water is next.
      
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      February 26, 2025 11:37am
      - Cantabrian
        
        They have come a long way for a tribe that had a population of in the order of only 2000 in 1861. I fail to understand how they can claim they lived, worked and farmed over the entire SI with so few people.
        Clearly clever opportunists.
        
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        February 26, 2025 12:36pm
  - KH
    
    Ngai Tahu are not out to protect water. They are after the money.
    Despite the sanctimonious talk they are polluters.
    They fought legal battles to do dirty dairy in the Hurunui.
    Their requirement led to the disaster in the Queenstown sewage plant. Polluting my river.
    The big power companies paid them $100 million. What for? Freedom on resource consents.
    It’s a rort. And dirty.
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:01pm
Steve Otto N Shore

Trump proposes Tax dividends.
See this stimulates the economy, something the left don’t get. 20% fair enough, it is Taxpayer’s money after all. Some to pay down debt as well.

https://conservativeadvocacy.com/musks-doge-uncovers-55b-in-waste-trump-proposes-taxpayer-dividends/?
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February 26, 2025 9:13am
Quail

The 2,5 % target is pretty difficult to put an actual $ number on.So the hardware price will be speculative at this time.
Inflation of around 20 % in the past 4 years means that the NZD will not buy what it usd to . In fact there is now approximately 5 dollars in circulation where in 2021 there once was 4!
So inevitably the bang for buck will be pretty poor.
Inflation is still with us in the tradable sector and because NZ has such a poor balance of payments / productivity record sourcing funds will be very costly.
Until Governments start curtailing their spending and balancing the books inflation will continue.
But NZ needs a defence force and that could be funded by cutting bureaucracy. RMA to start with!
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February 26, 2025 9:30am
Ipanema69

The issue with the Chinese ships conducting live fires in the Tasman Sea is a wake up call for defence spending.

NZ is a trading nation and freedom of the seas is crucial to our economic wellbeing. Like it or not freedom of world trade since ww2 has largely been underwritten by the USN (and to a lesser extent the RN although that service now has more admirals than ships). This has underpinned the free worlds economic success.

As an absolute bare minimum the navy needs to be able to have one frigate available for deployment on this type of mission (in conjunction with either the Australians, USN or RN.

However military is by its nature a high turnover organization. A lot of peple join serve for a few years and leave (and there is nothing wrong with that). Typically this means that you need to have at least three of any assett that you wish to have available for continuous deployment. This is especially true if you wish to maintain a decent training cycle.

Thus we probably need a third frigate at a minimum. This would mean we could continuously deploy one unit on whatever global mission that is required. Have a 2nd one in NZ working up for deployment (and to be available to chase chinese ships in the Tasman). The third would typically be in a maintenance cycle.

We should be doing more but the above would be a good start.
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February 26, 2025 9:32am
- Waipuk
  
  3 is seen as a bare minimum. But it is also bang for your buck. When the NZ Anzac frigates came into service they were described as the best informed targets in the world. As I understand it the NZ ships have had upgrades but in Oz their Anzacs are seen as obsolete.
  
  I read a few things which suggest because or NZ distance and the size of the area covered the ships need a bigger punch. Something like a Burke/Duke class but in a frigate footprint or perhaps in a Dock type ship which would provide flexibility and projection. Plus extend the reach with ship based drones which are capable of carrying air to ship missiles.
  
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  February 26, 2025 11:00am
  - Ipanema69
    
    Yes you are correct about the ANZACs. They are reaching the end of their lives.
    
    I was implying that the replacement fleet needs to be a minimum of three.
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:39am
    - Cassandra
      
      Indeed three minimum, although even then there’ll be times they’ll all be out of service. The figure was 4 but National cancelled the second half of the order.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:55pm
  - rouppe
    
    We have P8 posiedens which can project air to ship missiles. That’s the purpose of a P8.
    
    Arm what we have.
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:45am
    - Cassandra
      
      We need both. What we’re doing is supplementing Australia and the most cost effective way of doing that is have those two capabilities. Mmafraid my old service, Army, will be a distant last.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:58pm
    - Terry Dalee
      
      Really?
      
      NZ P8s can project diddly squat. The country never bought any missiles for the P8, let alone has the interface to allow the P8 to fire any missiles, i.e the wing mounted hardpoints.
      
      All it has is free fall bombs in the bomb bay and torpedoes..
      
      The RNZAF P8 will be well and truely shot out of the sky before it gets anywhere near the range to deploy those weapons. Modern ships will take out an aircraft at a range of over 80 NM with missiles..
      
      But I suppose your mortars, howitzers and small arms will scare any invaders off..
      
      A joke of a platform for a joke of a country…
      
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      February 27, 2025 1:44am
- rockape
  
  We would be better just offering a good navy base and airfield to the Americans. That would lessen the threat to NZ. Hell we may even get them to build a few decent roads like they once promised.
  
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  February 26, 2025 1:31pm
  - Jack5
    
    Rockape’s Americans … build a few decent roads like they once promised …
    
    New Zealand’s own Cargo Cult dreams of projects and megaprojects the Americans are alleged to have offered to this country in WW2, free.
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:46pm
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72mZU2XI6-E
Trump: Ukraine war could end in ‘weeks,’ US ‘very close’ to mineral deal
Former U.S. military diplomat Brent Sadler joined ‘Fox & Friends First’ to discuss his take on the status of peace talks for the Ukraine war, the latest on a rare earth mineral deal with the U.S. and the next phase for the ceasefire deal in Gaza. [Better ditch those defense stocks.]
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February 26, 2025 9:36am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8dUP1dmi8g
The next Chancellor of Germany wants to Confront Trump.
Germany, until recently the great bastion of stability and the engine of prosperity throughout Europe, is broken. And now, to top it all off, the arrival of the Trump Administration has turned everything upside down to the point that the future chancellor has been very clear: Europe has to prepare for the break with the United States. We’ll tell you all about it in this video. [Good luck with that.]
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February 26, 2025 9:36am
- MCōs
  
  Germany isn’t broken
  I don’t even know what you mean by ‘broken’
  It hasn’t been divided up into bits and dished out to other countries
  
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  February 26, 2025 2:14pm
  - sungsamning
    
    Well, not exactly broken. Definitely not feeling too good though. Just paying a fortune for power, and watching a lot of their factories moving to the US for cheaper power, and tariff avoidance.
    
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    February 26, 2025 3:06pm
    - MCōs
      
      So a bit of hyperbole on your part then.
      
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      February 26, 2025 8:08pm
- Grunter
  
  Grab the popcorn! Merz v Trump. It will be like watching Joe Parker v a 5 Year old.
  
  Merz first speech as the new leader was to claim that Germany is going to confront Russia, China and the USA.
  
  And Germany is the ONLY remaining plank to the EU foundation. When (not if) Germany fails, the entire European house of cards comes tumbling down. Trump knows this. Trump never wants to hangout with loosers.
  
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  February 26, 2025 2:38pm
- Paulus
  
  Did I not read that the USA pays 48% of the costs of NATO ?
  
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  February 26, 2025 3:00pm
Tomtoddy

Headlines regularly assail us with news of Greenland melting and drowning us all. Apparently it would take over 11,000 years for Greenland’s ice sheet to fully melt at current rates. Sea level rise from this melt? Just 7cm by 2125.

Bugger off MSN and quack scientists.
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February 26, 2025 9:46am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Had this come by email.
  30 million tons per hour! You may have read the sae thing from Centrist Exclusives, Tom.
  
  https://centrist.nz/behind-the-scarelines-sometimes-big-numbers-dont-really-mean-much/?
  
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  February 26, 2025 10:12am
- cmm
  
  ” Apparently it would take over 11,000 years for Greenland’s ice sheet to fully melt at current rates.”
  
  There’s going to be another mini ice age cycle before then.
  
  We vastly overestimate our ability to influence conditions.
  
  Sure we can speed processes up, but if we speed up or delay a natural cycle of, say 20,000 years by a even 100 years then so what?
  
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  February 26, 2025 11:12am
  - Bridgenag
    
    Yes. Wouldn’t it be better to get China and India to tone down their pollution
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:47am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Yes, pollution is an actual problem.
      CO2 is plant food.
      
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      February 26, 2025 4:04pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    As I understand it, the problem is the ice sliding into the sea and melting there. This is accelerated by surface melting water going down crevasses and lubricating the bottom of glaciers.
    
    Some of the bigger Antarctic glaciers have the same issue.
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:13pm
    - NothingLeft
      
      The center of Greenland is so depressed by the weight of ice that much of the center is under sea level and ice would have to flow uphill to get to sea:
      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Topographic_map_of_Greenland_bedrock.jpg
      
      Problem for Greenland is that if it starts to melt at top then altitude decreases and temperature of the top rises due to atmospheric lapse rate – leading to increased sublimation of ice. But current rate of ice lost is an inconsequential 50mm a year – increasing temps by ~0.0003°C per year, nothing compared to the ±2°C of natural yearly temp variations.
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:12pm
      - JackRabbit
        
        The center of Greenland is so depressed by the weight of ice that much of the center is under sea level and ice would have to flow uphill to get to sea:
        
        Not just the weight, but the friction caused by immense pressure between the ice and the rock, and the irregular surface. Same issue as in Antarctica.
        
        Even if the rock was flat and made of highly polished stainless steel, it still would not slide off.
        
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        February 26, 2025 7:05pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        Even if the rock was flat and made of highly polished stainless steel, it still would not slide off
        
        Except if the rock-water interface is liquid water that has flowed down crevasses …..
        
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        February 26, 2025 9:54pm
kevn

Germany, a mere 48 hours after the incumbent pollie promises.
https://x.com/realMaalouf/status/1894461570106696157
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February 26, 2025 10:36am
- RichardF
  
  I am glad my OE in Europe was more than 20 years ago. Sadly, my kids probably won’t get to experience the Europe I did.
  
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  February 26, 2025 11:10am
  - MCōs
    
    I was over there as a young guy in the early seventies and at the risk of going on about the good old days I’d say the UK & Europe were much more relaxed, free wheeling and friendly due to less exploitation of foreigners & tourists
    
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    February 26, 2025 2:37pm
- sungsamning
  
  Don’t be too surprised. What do the first three letters of ‘conservative’ spell?
  
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  February 26, 2025 3:10pm
RichardF

Can someone help me understand the German election results? The AFD secured 152 seats but are heading to the opposition benches. The CDU are likely to form a coalition with the left wing SPD. Is this like here in 2017 when Winston was kingmaker and went with Labour despite National having the largest party vote? Are the AFD being shafted? Looks like the will of the people is not being actioned.
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February 26, 2025 11:15am
- David Garrett
  
  Richard: I have a very good German friend whose politics are the opposite of mine – but I have never suspected him of lying (perhaps a little willful blindness on some thjings)
  
  He says the part of the AfD’s “message” is that Germans should be proud of all of their history, including the 12 years of the Third Reich. I have just emailed him to clarify that I understood him correctly.
  
  If he is right – and I regard him as a man of great integrity – it makes the other parties’ refusal to deal with them a great deal more understandable.
  
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  February 26, 2025 11:59am
  - Ghost
    
    https://www.politico.eu/article/far-right-leader-germans-should-be-proud-of-their-soldiers-world-war-service/
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:05pm
    - David Garrett
      
      Ghost: I was originally going to write that being “proud of their soldiers war service” was very different from saying the crimes of Adolf and his cronies were acceptable. But then I recall that “German soldiers” also included members of the SS who committed such atrocities as burning women and children alive at Orodour sur glane in June 1944.
      
      I suppose you could try and differentiate the doings of the Wehrmacht from the SS and Waffen SS…but overall probably best to stick with the standard line: the years 1933-45 were truly terrible, and must never be forgotten.
      
      That said, I feel a little sorry for young Germans who are still taught that they must feel shame for what their grandfathers and great-grandfathers did 80 years ago. I have always admired Germans for not attempting to rewrite history, as the Japanese have done ever since 1945
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:20pm
      - Eastlander
        
        The regular armed forces were just as deeply implicated as the SS in the final solution, as well as the innumerable barbarities committed by Germany as part of its anti-partisan warfare throughout Europe.
        
        To get an idea of what the average German soldier was like, here’s an article about German soldiers and pilots casually chatting about their wartime exploits:
        
        https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2204160/amp/Darkest-atrocities-Nazis-laid-bare-secretly-recorded-conversations-German-prisoners-war.html
        
        The last word on the subject of Germany is still Sir Robert Vansittart, who recalled his first visit to Wilhelmine Germany in the 1890s. Reading the newspapers he quickly gained the impression of having entered into a country of homicidal maniacs. His host family’s daughter would follow him from room to room shrieking about how Germany would one day bring fire and ruin on England.
        
        As for history, they have been shamelessly falsifying that since 1945 – whether it was promoting the clean Wehrmacht myth, or the Historikerstreit where Ernst Nolte and friends insisted that it was the communists’ fault somehow that the Germans started making lampshades out of human skins or kidnapping children to use them as blood bags. A particularly execrable German television show about a group of soldiers in the last war made a particular point of having anti-Semitic sentiment be expressed by Polish civilians, but not by the show’s German soldier protagonists!
        
        I have no sympathy for young or old Germans. They’ve been forced to demilitarise and contribute to the world with industry and crafts rather than bloodshed and if that’s uncomfortable for them, tough.
        
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        February 26, 2025 1:12pm
    - sungsamning
      
      Oops, foot jammed in mouth.
      
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      February 26, 2025 3:12pm
  - Nukuleka
    
    There is surely a difference between praising the bravery of soldiers in war and praising the regime that caused the war in the first place. Many Germans fighting in both wars were barely out of short pants and were conscripts. If they fought bravely and gave their lives even on behalf of an unjust regime I see no need to dismiss their sacrifice. You can admire their bravery and sacrifice whilst at the same time condemn the Nazi regime for which they were forced to fight. Life ain’t quite as black n white as some seem to think.
    
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    February 26, 2025 12:18pm
    - David Garrett
      
      Nuku: Fair comment – very little is black and white.
      
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      February 26, 2025 12:25pm
    - Eastlander
      
      Can’t say I see much need to honour the bravery of sadistic boxheads.
      
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      February 26, 2025 1:19pm
    - kowtow
      
      I recall a story where they found what amounted to a WW1 tunnel/large dugout where a large number of soldiers were basically interred alive by an artillery barrage . It was relatively well preserved .Western front.
      Here it is . Very poignant and comparing the Western allies relatives responses to that of the German’s is also interesting.
      
      A fascinating sad,tale.
      
      ‘In Germany, it’s a very different story. The find has only made the inside pages of a handful of newspapers. In the nation’s memory, the war is eclipsed by World War II, the Holocaust and the collective guilt that weighs on Germany to this day. Both conflicts have imbued Germany with a deep streak of pacifism.’
      
      https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/pocket-books-and-prayer-beads-wwi-grave-find-tells-story-germans-want-to-forget-a-794103.html
      
      Daily Mail have way more photos of the finds.
      
      https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2099187/Bodies-21-German-soldiers-buried-alive-WW1-trench-perfectly-preserved-94-years-later.html
      
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      February 26, 2025 3:31pm
  - Cassandra
    
    DG: the AfD’s policies depend very much on their leadership at the time. But its Nazi sympathies of an earlier time have made it a pariah. Interesting that it is the dominant party in the former East Germany.
    
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    February 26, 2025 1:02pm
- Quail
  
  And also Nga Tahu sold the South Island early on!
  
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  February 26, 2025 12:05pm
- Quail
  
  Richard.
  Germany.
  A live demonstration of MMP.
  
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  February 26, 2025 12:09pm
- Tom Hunter
  
  See also, Why do so many gay men support the AfD?
  
  “There are many neighbourhoods we can no longer go to because we are in danger of being injured, attacked or murdered,’Ali Utlu tells me.
  
  As a gay German man of Turkish extraction and an ex-Muslim, he’ll be voting for the hard-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party in the German elections later this month. And he’s not alone…
  
  The AfD is led by Alice Weidel, an open lesbian whose partner is of Sri Lankan origin. If she was the head of any other German political party, the media would be holding her up as a progressive trailblazer.
  
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  February 26, 2025 2:26pm
- sungsamning
  
  Yes, they’re being shafted. ‘Democracy’ has to be saved. Well, the donor class version of it anyhow.
  
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  February 26, 2025 3:11pm
- Mod88
  
  No, in Germany the Party with the most Votes MUST form the Govt or they go back to the Ballot Box. In New Zealand all the losing Parties can form a Govt. Therein lies the problem with NZ’s MMP System. As usual it was done half-baked and lazily. Was it not Jim Bolger who said,” Haha that will never happen”. Well it did and NZ is vertually Bankrupt because NZ’s Politicians are inherently LAZY. Always have been.
  
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  February 26, 2025 3:47pm
  - Quail
    
    M88
    Certainly the damage done by MMP is huge .
    Your suggestion that “ the party with the most votes forms the Government “ definitely could help.That is democracy.
    But how do we get away from an out of control list and be able to have politicians selected by ballot, not the Party bureaucracy ?
    MMP is a dog!
    
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    February 26, 2025 8:37pm
cas

I just got an email from my electricity supplier advising me that, from 1 April with price increases, they estimate my bill will increase by around $10.67 per week excluding GST. As a relatively low user, I can only speculate how much large households will have to pay on top of rates increases. At least we have a discount if you pay on time. Not good for the Govt.
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February 26, 2025 11:30am
- Bridgenag
  
  Go to Powerswitch and check out the cheapest providers
  
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  February 26, 2025 11:49am
  - Dougal10
    
    It seems in our area it is fixed charges per electricity meter that are going up , about 60c a day here , changing retailers won’t help.
    
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    February 26, 2025 2:17pm
  - cas
    
    Thanks I did that. Sadly there would be no appreciable difference given that I get a 15% discount every month.
    
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    February 26, 2025 3:29pm
- info@cruzpro.com
  
  Makes you want to think about getting solar panels installed.
  
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  February 26, 2025 1:59pm
Ghost

10 years old, damn. This is from the uk.

Alexander Westwood, 24, was jailed for 15 and a half years for attacking five victims, four of whom were children.

The actor was found to have raped a teenage girl and carried out his first attack when he was just 10 years old.

Article
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February 26, 2025 11:40am
- Blog-aholic
  
  Maybe if his name was slightly different he may have got home D???
  
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  February 26, 2025 11:54am
kevn

Rich.. afd and supporters/Germany shafted, like this as well.
https://x.com/VigilantFox/status/1894283711966740968
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February 26, 2025 11:41am
Surely Knott

Media misinformation and false allegations get even more ridiculous.

Headline. “Labour MP Phil Twyford alleges office targeted over his stance on Destiny Church”

What is Phil’s evidence? Well…there is dumped rubbish outside his office. And Phil has spoken out against Destiny. (like half of Auckland) So Phil assumes that Destiny must be responsible?!!!?

Google Maps says that Phil’s office is permanently closed. Further it shows their are security cameras. But no evidence is needed to link Destiny to the crime.

We are a country that routinely suppresses the identity of actual criminals and yet media falsely allege that Destiny dumped the rubbish?

But the media try to gain credibility by using the word police 4 times:

1. “Acting District Commander for Waitemata Inspector Simon Walker told Checkpoint, police received several complaints of assault that they were actively investigating and he expected there to be further complaints.”

Um this event was 9 days ago. And media are still reporting police are investigating. So it seems 9 days on no charges have been laid.

Police came out when Media and social media made incorrect allegations about Clarke Gayford. They need to speak up and either charge destiny or tell the media their was not an assault and to stop using their office to spread misinformation.

2. “Twyford’s office was scouring security footage following Tuesday’s incident and would be sending any relevant material to police.”
So no footage has been sent. And they have no footage of destiny. They are “scouring.” Perhaps report after you find the footage. If it happened yesterday scouring should be very quick.

Media are liars and they are making criminal accusations, calling for Destiny Church’s charitable status and using the police to seem like these fake claims have some credibility.

Police need to be clear and shut down this defamatory attack.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/542946/labour-mp-phil-twyford-alleges-office-targeted-over-his-stance-on-destiny-church
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February 26, 2025 12:22pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  A couple of days ago Media were running stories about the dangerous Man Up programme being run by Destiny Church.
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/in-depth/542759/domestic-violence-groups-slam-dangerous-man-up-programme
  
  I read the article looking for the Evidence that Man Up was dangerous, but only came across this:
  
  It had never been evaluated, and the limited amount known about it suggested its teaching was more about men “managing their women” and becoming part of the Destiny community.
  
  It may well contain a philosophy that is repellent to certain sections of NZ… but if it manages to change the thinking of some violent men so that they no longer harm their wives/girlfriends/children, then it is less dangerous than a programme that achieves bugger all.
  
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  February 26, 2025 2:07pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Still waiting for the media outrage at the seven Christian churches being attacked in the Wairarapa.
    
    Hate crime anybody?…. anybody?
    
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    February 26, 2025 4:11pm
Ghost

Looks like police have a lead on the church arsonist

Police are seeking Michael Kane McRae, 44, who has a warrant for his arrest.

We believe Mr McRae will be able to assist with our investigation into several arsons at churches in Masterton on the morning of Saturday 22 February.

NZ Police
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February 26, 2025 12:34pm
- kowtow
  
  McRae ?
  
  Highlands Liberation Movement?
  
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  February 26, 2025 12:45pm
  - Jack5
    
    Or a Covenanter sour on thought of 18,000 Presbyterian Scots martyrs?
    
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    February 26, 2025 11:55pm
- kevn
  
  Ghost… Seems well known to police. Link has a pic to help locals.
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/man-wanted-over-assault-investigation/TFG5BD3IZHGY74DGEBWHNB3ON4/
  
  https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/man-wanted-over-assault-investigation/TFG5BD3IZHGY74DGEBWHNB3ON4/
  
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  February 26, 2025 1:33pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    And before that time…
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7230437/Mum-finds-courage-to-nark-on-thug
    
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    February 26, 2025 1:41pm
    - kowtow
      
      “All my family are Nomads – and it’s not all like that,” she said.
      
      And therein lies a huge part of the problem.
      
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      February 26, 2025 2:14pm
    - cmm
      
      “Even my two oldest kids have called me a nark.”
      
      Ok, please someone, draw me a picture why these women settle down with these gang members and, worse, have kids with them.
      
      I can only think that 6 kids were to milk the taxpayer via WINZ/MSD/whatever.
      
      3.5 years, so he was out again in within 2 years to rinse and repeat.
      
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      February 26, 2025 5:46pm
- AitchW
  
  Is he the winner boasting about carrying out the arsons on Facebook?
  
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  February 26, 2025 5:55pm
Jigsaw

We caught a guy breaking into our country cafe and supplied police with a description and license plate number only to be told by them that he was too dangerous to approach.
All we have to show for that encounter is a letter of apology from the Minister of Police at the time Annette King.
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February 26, 2025 1:16pm
Steve Otto N Shore

He’s a mobster!
$5M and you are on your way to US citizenship. What is wrong with that? Oh the poor illegals can never do it – sad. There is a legal way.
“If I had $5 million, I’d rather buy a house in Toronto than become an American,” Irish-Canadian journalist Scott D’Agostino wrote. Good, fuck off then.
Who is going to pay $5M? Well the rest of the World has some very well off people.

No worse than NZ wanting people to come live in NZ with X millions to invest in NZ.
Just keep the liberals out.

https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/other/he-s-a-mobster-trump-buried-over-sickening-new-citizenship-proposal/ar-AA1zMMa5?
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February 26, 2025 2:09pm
- NothingLeft
  
  It’s far cheaper to use other US investment visas, where you don’t have to hand over $5mill to govt
  
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  February 26, 2025 2:16pm
goNZ1

from granny Herald –
Wayne Brown wants the building of a linear park in the Auckland CBD paused due to the ongoing disruption caused by the construction.
Brown says the construction of the park has made it harder for motorists and is a waste of money.
Seriously he must be the only Mayor in NZ pushing back on the local govt lunatic ideas while the rest of us wages slaves are smashed with 20% rates hikes!
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February 26, 2025 2:13pm
Paulus

What is a Linear Park please ?
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February 26, 2025 3:03pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linear_park
  
  Perhaps an euphemism for a cycle lane
  
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  February 26, 2025 3:43pm
- Jack5
  
  A linear park is no place for squares.
  
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  February 26, 2025 11:58pm
Steve Otto N Shore

Judge David Harvey’s Treat Bill Oral Submission. Where Was He Right? And Wrong? (Part 2)

Video 14,45 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcJ1KZuOXns
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February 26, 2025 4:33pm
Pope Punctilious II

Basset, Brash & Hide confirm that this government is doing sweet FA to roll back the wokification of our education system: https://www.bassettbrashandhide.com/post/rodney-hide-schooling-through-a-te-ao-maori-lens
Why did Luxon appoint Erica Stanford as Minister of Ed? He can’t claim he didn’t know about her “progressive” politics, as here he with her at the Big Gay Out: https://gayexpress.co.nz/2023/09/exclusive-christopher-luxon-on-prioritising-diversity-inclusion/
Ergo, Luxon had no intention of breaking the woke stranglehold on our education system. And where is NZF? This issue is supposed to be important to them.
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February 26, 2025 4:45pm
- H. Upmann
  
  Luxon’s interview with Hosking says everything you need to know about him; woke, weak, wet.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:25pm
NothingLeft

Liz Truss discussing how the judiciary and civil service/NGOs (the ‘blob’ or ‘deep state’) have taken over and are wrecking western democracies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hA17ma1SyZ0

Same problem in NZ. Public sector (local and central govt) and judiciary need to have their fangs pulled once and for all to restore power to the people we actually elect.
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February 26, 2025 5:47pm
John Loveridge

Spotted by my alert aon: Kiwibank appears to have too much time on its hands:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/activity:7298497687459352577?trk=organization_guest_main-feed-card_comment-cta
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February 26, 2025 6:53pm
- AitchW
  
  We do have an s in English, and Kiwi has been assimilated into modern English. So if we’re speaking English the plural of kiwi is kiwis.
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:20pm
- John Loveridge
  
  My SON, that is.
  
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  February 26, 2025 8:41pm
- Inandout
  
  That bastion of woke, Consumer always write about kiwis do this, kiwis do that.
  
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  February 26, 2025 9:31pm
Allan

Hey Luxon, good luck on that tax on Facebook and suchlike.

Trump just signed an executive order;

“……where a foreign government, through its tax or regulatory structure, imposes a fine, penalty, tax, or other burden that is discriminatory, disproportionate, or designed to transfer significant funds or intellectual property from American companies to the foreign government or the foreign government’s favored domestic entities, my Administration will act, imposing tariffs and taking such other responsive actions necessary to mitigate the harm to the United States and to repair any resulting imbalance.”.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/defending-american-companies-and-innovators-from-overseas-extortion-and-unfair-fines-and-penalties/
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February 26, 2025 10:07pm
Jack5

Paintings of Lord Nelson and Francis Drake have been taken down in the British Parliament.

The Telegraph says this followed a review, led by MPs of Parliamentary art linked to slavery and racism.

Nelson was criticised by Black Lives Matter activists for alleged personal support of slavery, while Drake was targeted for his youthful involvement in the slave trade.

The newspaper says portraits of prominent Labour figures including Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, and Baroness Hoey, a former Labour minister, have been put on display.

It says the changes are to boost gender and ethnic diversity.
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February 26, 2025 10:27pm

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