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Meclazine for Israel
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« Reply #100 on: February 10, 2021, 05:43:02 PM »
« edited: February 12, 2021, 09:57:46 AM by Virginiá »

Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi wears a tie and a taonga during the opening of New Zealand’s 53rd Parliament in November.

He has worn a tie before. I don't see what his problem is.

Anyway, as with most things political, he will achieve a lot more if he becomes beligerent and controversial and makes world news about not wearing a tie in Parliament.

Love those tattoos. I used to have a green figurine like the one around his neck. It was my lucky charm.
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CumbrianLefty
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« Reply #101 on: February 12, 2021, 11:00:20 AM »

Jeremy Corbyn and a few other left wing Labour MPs of his vintage often made a point of not wearing ties in the Commons in the 1980s, even though it was expected for male members back then.
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NewYorkExpress
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« Reply #102 on: February 16, 2021, 08:53:00 AM »

So, New Zealand and Australia are going at it over a duel citizen who was caught on the battlefield supporting ISIS, and whom Australia wants to deport to New Zealand.

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New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has accused Australia of "abdicating its responsibilities" amid a row over a woman accused of having links to the Islamic State (IS).

The woman is facing deportation to New Zealand after being caught entering Turkey from Syria with two children.

But Ms Ardern says the dual national should be sent to Australia.

The 26-year-old held both Australian and New Zealand citizenship until Canberra revoked it last year.

However, Ms Ardern pointed out that the woman - who the Turkish Ministry of National Defence has identified as a member of IS - had not lived in New Zealand since she was a child.

"They left New Zealand at the age of six, were resident in Australia from that time, became an Australian citizen, left from Australia to Syria, and travelled on an Australian passport," she said.

She summed up by saying: "New Zealand frankly, is tired of having Australia exporting its problems."
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Pericles
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« Reply #103 on: February 25, 2021, 05:25:22 PM »

There has been some more National Party drama. Simon Bridges a few days ago called the non-partisan police commissioner Andrew Coster a "wokester" for his alleged softness on gangs. It seems to be about Coster's "policing by consent" approach, in the parliamentary hearing that Coster was in, he said that “Let me tell you what policing by consent means. When we look overseas and we see the violent clashes between communities and police – over Covid-lockdowns, over Black Lives Matter – that is what it looks like when police lose the consent of their communities". Coster also said that police are doing fewer pursuits because it has put innocent people at risk, and that gang numbers are unclear since it is much easier for people to get on the police's gang list than be removed from it (National has been saying that gang membership has soared under Labour, though it is possible that gang activity has actually increased). This Twitter thread from a former Labour adviser shows what this incident says about the internal dynamics of the National Party.

Basically it seems Simon Bridges is trying to grab headlines so he can become National Party Leader again.
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PSOL
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« Reply #104 on: February 25, 2021, 05:46:11 PM »



The rise in polling of the Green Party is something I wasn’t expecting. What is causing these trends?
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Pericles
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« Reply #105 on: February 25, 2021, 07:59:49 PM »
« Edited: February 26, 2021, 03:00:19 PM by Pericles »

Roy Morgan always overestimates the Greens, but perhaps Labour being a moderate government and house prices becoming ever more unaffordable is having some impact on left-wing young voters.
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CumbrianLefty
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« Reply #106 on: February 26, 2021, 10:45:20 AM »

Roy Morgan always overestimates the Greens, but perhaps Labour being a moderate government and house prices becoming ever more affordable is having some impact on left-wing young voters.

Why would this negatively affect Labour support?
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Pericles
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« Reply #107 on: February 26, 2021, 03:00:45 PM »

Roy Morgan always overestimates the Greens, but perhaps Labour being a moderate government and house prices becoming ever more affordable is having some impact on left-wing young voters.

Why would this negatively affect Labour support?

That's a typo, they're becoming more unaffordable.
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Pericles
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« Reply #108 on: February 27, 2021, 04:08:31 AM »

It looks like I forgot to mention the Papatoetoe school cluster. On Feb 14, community cases of the UK variant were revealed in Auckland, so Auckland moved into a third lockdown while the rest of the country went to level two (social distancing restrictions). The lockdown only lasted three days, it seemed we had gotten lucky and our contact tracing had the cluster contained. The original case was a laundry worker for an airline laundry department. This was also the UK variant. The entire country even spent this week at level 1 (so normal life, though masks are mandatory on public transport everywhere now). However, a new case has arisen. They are the older sibling of a Papatoetoe school student, but the student tested negative three times so the origin of their infection is unclear. They also really made things worse by visiting several locations while awaiting a test result. So, Auckland is in a fourth lockdown for a week, the rest of the country is back in level 2. This is very annoying, especially given the rule-breaking. We are still very fortunate and hopefully the government is doing enough now, so we can be back to normal life soon. Also, it's hard not to think that the govt made a mistake by moving Auckland to level 1 before the incubation cycles were even complete. However, it might not have made any difference.
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Pericles
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« Reply #109 on: March 11, 2021, 05:39:32 PM »

The so-called Valentine's Day cluster now finally seems to be completely contained. There were no more community cases, despite the government feeling the need to go into a lockdown, and so with two weeks Covid free Auckland is back in level 1. The rest of the country had already gone do level 1 nearly a week ago. The vaccine rollout is just starting, with border workers getting top priority, and then it will be rolled out over the next few months to the general population. Here is the government's rollout plan-https://covid19.govt.nz/updates-and-resources/latest-updates/covid-19-vaccine-rollout-plan/
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Pericles
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« Reply #110 on: April 05, 2021, 12:12:51 AM »

This is very bad news.
New Zealand mental health crisis has worsened under Labour
The government has legitimately tried here, with a big focus on 'wellbeing' and more funding for the mental health system, but it just hasn't been enough. At least suicide rates didn't go up last year, though 2019 was the worst year.

Labour also campaigned heavily in 2017 on reducing child poverty, and fortunately the recent news is better there.
All measures of child poverty trending downwards
The previous data didn't show this, so when I saw it a while ago I was pleasantly surprised. This is pre-Covid data, unfortunately the situation is likely worse now (though our economy has held up very well given the global circumstances). Labour's early Families Package and changes to welfare benefits are the likely cause of this change. However even now, most of the government's working group's own recommendations to increase welfare benefits have not been enacted, so that is disappointing.
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CumbrianLefty
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« Reply #111 on: April 05, 2021, 08:43:07 AM »

Mental health worsening and Covid are surely connected, though.
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Pericles
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« Reply #112 on: April 05, 2021, 11:33:29 PM »

After just over a year, quarantine-free travel between New Zealand and Australia will resume on April 19. Australia already had a one-way travel bubble with New Zealand. This is still great news, it will boost our tourism sector, and allow New Zealanders to reunite with friends and family in Australia without having to quarantine. There are protocols in place to avoid any mixing with flights from other countries where Covid has not been eliminated (those people are going into managed isolation), and there is a government framework for how it could respond to outbreaks in Australia. The bubble was done on a state by state basis, rather than with Australia overall, so New Zealand can remain open to most of Australia even if one state has an outbreak. This is great news.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/124755746/transtasman-bubble-quarantinefree-travel-between-australia-and-new-zealand-will-restart-on-april-19
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Pericles
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« Reply #113 on: April 10, 2021, 04:48:28 PM »

Some analysis of the National Party's leadership troubles-
Does Christopher Luxon have what it takes to lead the National Party?

Several points;
-A Simon Bridges/Chris Luxon ticket has been speculated about, but this is unlikely since its designed with Bridges being an interim leader so would not end the leadership drama.
-Judith Collins proposed a motion opposing the central government gaining power to regulate fluoride levels, and was defeated in her own caucus.
-Luxon is seen as socially conservative and his values may be out of touch with middle NZ, but he is clearly making leadership moves.
-A new Roy Morgan poll showed National at just 23% of the vote (this pollster is pretty random and not that accurate though).
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Pericles
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« Reply #114 on: May 19, 2021, 10:23:05 PM »
« Edited: May 19, 2021, 10:27:23 PM by Pericles »

New Zealand's budget has come out this afternoon, and it's a great budget. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/300309575/live-budget-2021-being-delivered-by-finance-minister-grant-robertson The best thing for me is that benefits have been significantly increased, and it shows Labour is serious about reversing the damage done by the Mother of all Budgets 30 years ago. Health spending has also been boosted, while unemployment and debt are lower than expected. House price growth is predicted to stall, I really really hope that's true but I'll believe it when I see it.

Meanwhile, the other day there was an interesting divide on immigration. The government announced an immigration 'reset', saying that temporary workers reduced wages (https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/442787/pm-defends-immigration-reset-rejects-suggestion-kiwis-are-work-shy), while National today seemed to defend high levels of immigration. NZ had pretty high levels of immigration so maybe moderation is better but I am suspicious of what Labour is saying here.
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NewYorkExpress
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« Reply #115 on: July 01, 2021, 10:38:07 AM »

Jacinda calls opposition leader Judith Collins a "Karen" as debate on hate speech laws gets heated.
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A hate speech debate turned heated in New Zealand's Parliament on Wednesday when Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern suggested the country's opposition leader was a "Karen."

The insult, popularized last year by an internet meme, broadly refers to an entitled White woman who is unafraid to use her privilege to make unreasonable demands.

Parliament had been debating New Zealand's hate speech laws, with Ardern's government proposing harsher penalties for inciting discrimination and violence. The proposal comes in response to the deadly 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks. A Royal Commission inquiry afterward concluded the law did not adequately deal with hate speech and hate crime, and recommended stronger measures.

But the proposed changes have been sharply criticized by opposition parties, who argue it would infringe on freedom of speech and that existing laws are sufficient.

......

Collins reiterated her opposition to the law in parliament Wednesday, arguing it would "shut down debate on hate speech."

"I disagree with that statement," Ardern replied. "I also, as it happens, disagree with (Collins') statement on Twitter, that somehow it will become illegal to call someone a 'Karen.' That is absolutely incorrect, and I apologize, that means these laws will not protect that member from such a claim."

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Pericles
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« Reply #116 on: July 02, 2021, 03:59:46 AM »

Lol that was pretty funny. I don't really understand the proposed hate speech law so I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but the government hasn't communicated well on it. National is a mess though-Collins forced out Todd Muller for leaking against a new MP, but Muller is staying on in the backbenches until 2023. There are constant leaks, disunity and gaffes, Collins is obviously not going to last as leader and the party has no strong message but nobody else is a strong replacement and even the few alternatives that are already there are too scared to become leader now and are just biding their time.
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Pericles
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« Reply #117 on: July 19, 2021, 10:45:31 PM »

https://www.ipsos.com/sites/default/files/14th%20Ipsos%20New%20Zealand%20Issues%20Monitor_%20Report.pdf
This data is pretty interesting. This point in particular stood out, though Labour's support has dropped a bit.


Of course, people say they care more about poverty and housing than they probably really do. Labour's budget was great with the benefits increase, but I doubt there is enough political will to resurrect the idea of a capital gains tax. The best we can hope for is that house prices remain at their current level of unaffordability, but the safest bet is it will just keep getting worse.
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NewYorkExpress
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« Reply #118 on: August 01, 2021, 07:06:58 PM »

Jacinda Ardern has apologized for the 1970's dawn raids targeting Pacific Islanders.

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Beginning in 1974, New Zealand police armed with dogs woke up Pacific Islanders who allegedly overstayed their visas at dawn, pushed them into police vans for questioning, then often deported them and placed their children in state care homes. The early morning operation became known as the "Dawn Raids."

Nearly 50 years later, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Sunday formally apologized for those raids and the lasting hurt they have caused. Ardern expressed the government's "sorrow, remorse and regret" over the raids.

New Zealand welcomed thousands of Pacific Islanders after World War Two to help fill a labor shortage. There were more than 65,000 Pacific Islanders in the country by 1976. But an economic crisis later caused unemployment to rise, and migrants were blamed.

Along with raids at homes, workplaces, schools and places of worship, police targeted non-white New Zealanders by forcing them to carry a passport at all times. Pacific Islanders were disproportionately impacted by the raids, even though most visa overstayers were from Australia, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
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Pericles
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« Reply #119 on: August 17, 2021, 02:22:32 AM »

https://i.stuff.co.nz/national/health/coronavirus/126100337/covid19-live-entire-nz-moves-to-alert-level-4-from-midnight-after-positive-man-travels-to-coromandel

A Covid case, which has been assumed to be Delta, has been discovered in the community without an obvious source. NZ has seen Australia's crisis and we know that we have to go hard and early. I expect this is our final challenge as our vaccination rates have been low but are surging right now. So we have all gone into a hard lockdown for 3 days at least, with Auckland facing at least a week. This is tough, but I'm confident NZ will show the world how Delta is beaten with our hard and early response.
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CumbrianLefty
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« Reply #120 on: August 17, 2021, 06:36:58 AM »

Some people not surprisingly seeing this as an overreaction, but despite the tendency to lump the two countries together on Covid (and of course more generally) NZ seems overall to have handled things much better than Australia and life has been considerably more "normal" there for some time now.

So fingers crossed Smiley
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Astatine
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« Reply #121 on: August 17, 2021, 04:58:16 PM »

Might be a dumb question, but how come that NZ's vaccine rollout has been so damn slow (currently ~30 % with at least one dose, ~20 % fully vaccinated)? Even Moldova, Europe's poorest country, has a much higher vaccination rate (43 % / 22 %).
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Pericles
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« Reply #122 on: August 17, 2021, 06:56:20 PM »

Might be a dumb question, but how come that NZ's vaccine rollout has been so damn slow (currently ~30 % with at least one dose, ~20 % fully vaccinated)? Even Moldova, Europe's poorest country, has a much higher vaccination rate (43 % / 22 %).

We got the supply late, perhaps due to having eliminated Covid we didn't negotiate as good of a contract as we should have. However the rollout has just started to ramp up and vaccinations open to all over 16s on September 1.
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Pericles
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« Reply #123 on: August 17, 2021, 08:25:01 PM »

NZ outbreak expands to 7 cases. It has been linked by genome sequencing to the NSW outbreak, so Gladys Berejiklian's failed leadership is spraying Covid across the region. This confirms the early lockdown was the right decision, NSW after all recorded 633 cases today because they waited a few days before locking down. That's an unacceptable level before most people are vaccinated.
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Pericles
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« Reply #124 on: August 20, 2021, 08:47:43 PM »

The Delta outbreak now has 51 total cases, with cases in both Auckland and Wellington. The level 4 lockdown was extended until Tuesday 24th for the entire country, and Auckland at least is very likely to remain in lockdown for longer. Yesterday, NZ broke its records for both vaccinations and daily testing. The case numbers will probably get worse, but hopefully in the next week or two thanks to our early lockdown the outbreak is then beaten.
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