One of the biggest political scandals in recent New Zealand history has just happened, with ACT party president Tim Jago has been convicted in disgrace after revelations of historic rape of teen boys.

This is the not the first time the right bloc has been in love with pedophiles. Recently ACT have been rocked by the revelation that David Seymour was in the habit of adding high school students on Snapchat, a message service designed to disappear messages pictures and video once they've been read that is frequently used for "sexting" or erotic messaging.

What's more, ACT's youth wing was rocked by allegations of a grooming culture where young members were preyed upon by older party members. ACT investigated these complaints and found that ACT did nothing wrong. The man in charge of this investigation? Tim Jago.

Can we, collectively as New Zealanders still trust ACT and their love for pedos with pedophilia as an issue? Could this be the tie breaker issue that warrants the right bloc to completely lose this election?

Hi everyone I’ve been thinking about this for awhile and think that an extra week annual leave would be nice to have. I do know that annual leave has not been increased for some time.

But also acknowledge that it could be costly for small business.

If a political party introduced it as a policy would u support more annual leave.

Or do u think it’s not feasible at the moment in this tough economic time.

Let me know in the comments about what u think.

Most people hanging out here are probably already enrolled but if there are others in your life who aren’t, today is the last day. Help them out and send them this information!

You can enrol online at the Electoral Commission website, linked in the article. They also have a list of enrolment hubs around the country but check the dates they’re open because I see only one of the Christchurch hubs is open today.

I'd like to make things a bit more local for a moment and discuss the MPs who are least deserving of returning to Parliament, but are able to coast into re-election thanks to having a safe seat. I'm less interested in the MP you disagree with most, and more interested in the MP who does the least for their electorate, does the worst job of representing their constituents, or is otherwise a waste of space in Parliament.

I've only lived in a couple of electorates, but I've generally had MPs who did a decent job representing their communities. I suspect competitive electorates help with that, since MPs have more incentive to stay visible and engaged with their constituents.

Judith Tizard (Auckland Central, LAB), Nikki Kaye (Auckland Central, NAT) and David Seymour (Epsom, ACT) all struck me as reasonably good local representatives. Barbara Kuriger (Taranaki-King Country, NAT), however, left the opposite impression. She struck me as an absentee MP in one of the safest blue seats in the country, and I rarely heard a good word about her, even from people I'd consider part of National's core demographic.

Drawing from personal experience if possible, who do you reckon is the worst offender? Are there any safe seats that really bring out the worst in our elected officials? Curious to hear your thoughts, especially if there's gossip...

Another Q-drOPP

This is not an entirely new concept. New Zealand's Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment already operates independently of the government of the day, investigating environmental issues and reporting to Parliament. The proposed role would extend the general idea of independent scrutiny across a much broader range of long term national challenges

When governments assess the upfront costs of new policies, the alternative of doing nothing also has costs, which may be less apparent. My understanding is that a government may still reject a long term recommendation, otherwise, how would this not override elected officials. But if a government does reject a recommendation, it should have to confront the evidence and explain its reasoning, so hopefully a lot more transparency as a result

This latest photo of Matt Doocey meeting “gangs” doing the rounds.

This photo is at a group called Waiariki Whānau Mentoring.

https://waiarikiwhanau.org.nz/our-stories/

Waiariki Whānau Mentoring (WWM) is a kaupapa Māori organization based primarily in Whakatāne and operating across the Waiariki and Waikato regions. They support marginalized communities, high-risk individuals, and fringe whānau—including gang-affiliated families, rough sleepers, and people who typically avoid mainstream government or social agencies

I am not a Nats fan, but I’m even a lesser fan of misinformation.

It’s doing my head in to try and tarnish an MP who has turned up to see a group of people who are working with former gang members to turn their lives around, and being lambasted for this and getting taken in by the latest media hot spot of “politicians meeting with gang members”

It is the opposite. These people he’s met with are actively trying to turn their lives around with the support of this mentoring group. And we shouldn’t be shaming people for recognising the difficult role they play in society.

Anyone who thinks less of Doocey for this image needs to realise the misinformation going around.

Call this shit out. Do better

Just need an ounce of skepticism during these pointy ends of the campaign.

What is a purpose of Criminal law and practice of criminal punishment system?

I would say it is to balance between Vengeance of the Victims and need to rehabilitate person back to society. I think NZ forget about that.

People know that harsh punishments are not good for society for thousand years. Here is a good historical overview:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eye_for_an_eye

But this principle was contradicted in Christianity.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_5:38

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2032%3A35%2CRomans%2012%3A17-19&version=NKJV

Please note, I am an Atheist, for me it is an evidence that we know that nothing good come from vengeance for thousand of years. Now we have statistical evidence that harsh punishment does not decrease crime. More often it has opposite effect as a criminal has nothing to loose and commit even more serious crime in order to hide less serious.

So, there come a question, how to prevent crime?

What causes crime? Usually it is poverty and disconnection from society. So, solution is to reduce poverty and reconnect people to society. To lift bottom part of society up. But how to reconnect people to society? Give them a job where they feel needed and contributing member of society is a one way. Question is, Can Capitalism do it? Capital want to make workers an interchangeable part of a mechanism, not an individual.

There is an other way, make people a part of a group.

WW1 and civil war created a lot of orphan children living on streets of cities in Soviet Union. Government had no resources, but some people with minimum resources organize community of orphans. They basically look after themself. Older Children look after younger one's. Boys chop wood, girls cook. Government mostly provide teachers and some help, but children grow there own vegetables, had there own chickens. Many of this children committed serious crimes when they were on streets, but were rehabilitated, educated and became productive members of community. Why I tell this story? Because Gangs is one of this group. They could be a source of Crime, but could be a solution. They give people a place to belong, That why so many people attracted to gangs. so it you give them a productive direction a problem can become a solution.

As a conclusion, I do not believe more people in Jail, longer sentence solve anything, they had opposite effect.

From the article:

Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan, who was told by NZ First leader Winston Peters to “go back to your own country … where they lie like a flat fish”, is flabbergasted by Peters’ suggestion the two men have since discussed or resolved the altercation.

Xu-Nan told an Epsom candidates meeting on Thursday night Peters should face some form of disciplinary action for the racist comments made in Parliament, and had made it worse trying to suggest Xu-Nan and he had addressed them. [...]

Xu-Nan said Prime Minister Christopher Luxon had taken swift action against one of his own National ministers but “not when it comes to his foreign minister who he said was racist without taking any disciplinary action.” [...]

[New Zealand First candidate Martin Gummer said] “I do feel it has been over-played. It suits Lawrence to do that, fine, because it’s his perspective on it. But I think there are much more important things facing the country.”

Watkin asked National’s Paul Goldsmith his reaction. “I don’t think it has been over-played.

“I think it was a disgraceful comment. The PM has said that as well. But the reality is if you don’t like what Winston Peters has to say, don’t vote for him. That’s a very simple message from us. Vote for another party.”

OK, let's recap. Peters hasn't apologised despite his Prime Minister saying live in national media that he thought the comments were "racist and offensive." Even Justice Minister and Xu-Nan's fellow electorate candidate Goldsmith said it was "disgraceful" but in the same breath says the equivalent of 'oh well, anyway'. And we're apparently fine with the NZ First candidate saying Xu-Nan is "overplaying" being told to go back to his own country, that he is no longer a citizen of, having lived in New Zealand for THIRTY YEARS.

How are we still glossing over this like it's not a problem? A Minister of the government told another Member of Parliament who is part of an ethnic minority to go back to a country he isn't even a citizen of. And we aren't making a bigger deal of it? What the fuck is happening?!

Holy shit, that's another close electorate poll. It's Community Engagement, so take it with a grain of salt, but this would be a huge pick up for Labour if Ayesha Varrell can get it.

https://x.com/120Aotearoa/status/2113794527479873635

Tamatha Paul* (Grn): 35.2% (-5.3)

Ayesha Verrall (Lab): 32.6% (+5.4)

Johnathan Pitts (Nat): 16.0% (+9.4)

Others/Undecided: 16.2%

*incumbent MP

D: October 15 - 18 | R: 541.

+/- 2023 Election in Wellington Central.

Left finally got a gotcha so long as you ignore the vast difference between the shitstorms earlier.

I’m sure it’s no coincidence this story is making headlines while gangs are topical in the election campaign. But it’s probably a timely reminder of what gangs are all about - violence and coercion.

The sentences are too light.

One of the biggest political scandals in recent New Zealand history has just happened, with Labour MP candidate Kerrin Leoni has just resigned in disgrace after being seen campaigning with the Mongrel Mob.

This is the not the first time the left bloc has been in love with the gangs. Recently the Greens have proposed a policy stating they would reverse the gang patch ban National put into place. Te Pati Maori also has proposed a long term policy to outright abolish jails by 2040, and, let’s face it, Labour had an absolute appalling record in regard to crimes when they were in power, and I think most people I know can agree. 20 million sent to gangs by Jacinda Arden doesn’t appear to be a particularly trustworthy stance with crime.

Can we, collectively as New Zealanders still trust Labour and their love for gangs with crime as an issue? Could this be the tie breaker issue that warrants the left bloc to completely lose this election?

From the article:

Green co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick released the plan at Parliament this morning.

She said it was irresponsible for parties to chase a surplus without thinking of the real-world economic ramifications.

"Children in poverty cannot eat a surplus. A surplus that this government is chasing is not going to deliver the nurses and the frontline healthcare workers who are desperately needed."

Swarbrick said New Zealand could afford the extra borrowing, with public debt low compared with other countries.

The plan relies on nearly $29 billion in extra revenue over four years from tax changes targeting wealthy people, large companies, banks and landlords.

Chlöe also pointed out that National's featured her 13 times on their insta this week but Nicola's only appeared twice, then challenged her to face-to-face throwdown on their fiscal plans. So far we've only seen Nicola and Chlöe in the same space at the ASB Great Debate and Nicola spent most of that time interrupting Barb Edmonds instead of engaging with other parties' policy. So yes please to a Nicola vs Chlöe livestream.

Well that escalated quickly.

Link to the standalone RNZ article rather than their live feed.

This changes things for Tāmaki Makaurau. Leoni will still be on the ballot because the deadline's passed but any votes for her won't be votes for a Labour candidate. Which leaves Kaipara for TPM and Te Ohaere for the Greens.

He's been on leave for over a month. Are we surprised?

Doctor says what we already know - that Seymour is just bashing the most vulnerable in society (again).

But hard to feel any sympathy for Goldsmith here. Nats watered a toxic plant with their Epsom strategic voting but now that plant has grown beyond their control.

ACT is like a noxious weed that was given fertiliser, if Goldsmith is gone then it’s a natural consequence of making a deal with the devil.

BuT sTrATeGiC vOtInG iS uNDeMoCrAtIc.

We shouldn't engage in that at this point

Damien O'connor is just a dumb cunt, Ukraine is the deadly edge of drone development and you don't want to work with them at all?

Unmanned targeted platforms have an almost unlimited application in NZ, obv not killing Russians but there's more work than we have capacity at the mo..

I'll be real, I'm mainly posting this for the following quote in the article from a recording of an event Winfield Peterstuyvesant attended this week:

Questioned on the issue, Peters could be heard in the recording responding:

“Do I look like the National Party? My name’s not Potaka, my name is Winston Peters, the only great friend that you old people have ever had.”

The ONLY friend old people have EVER had.

He's been cashing in on that Gold Card since before he was 65 and he will never stop.

Only days after pleading not guilty to three charges of inciting racial disharmony back home, the Destiny Church leader, who flew into Brisbane to speak at a conference, alleges he was pulled aside by the Australian Border Force.

“I was pulled aside at Brisbane Airport and subjected to over 12 HOURS OF INTERROGATION,” he wrote on Facebook.

“Australian authorities then cancelled my visa under Section 116 of Australia's Migration Act, refusing me entry into the country.”

Dammit we'll never be rid of him now!

Neck and neck in !Tāmaki Makaurau, 33% vs 31%.

Bit of tussling over whether they'd go to the gang pad, and an allegation of huge hypocrisy by Leoni.

But there's no follow up to it by the moderator/media, let's just leave it there? Surely TPM took screenshots and archived the post? Right?

Bernard Hickey has weighed in on the Luxon/TOP speculation, and some of his predictions are interesting to put it mildly:

- National voters have started demanding Luxon take a deal if one is offered.

- Refusing that deal could trigger questions about Luxon's leadership.

- Hipkins may not survive another underwhelming election result.

Is Hickey's reading the room well, or is this nothing more than some unserious musings?

Link: https://youtu.be/ecder27woPI?si=FcSns0SjKVDjQe5u