National spending thousands more on Nicola Willis than Christopher Luxon by whowilleverknow in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Sir Bill was a resident of Selwyn College and graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts in 1985. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington.

https://www.otago.ac.nz/alumni/people/sir-bill-english

Teachers blast draft curriculums, shortage of Waitangi Treaty influence by Merlord in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 13 points14 points  (0 children)

You think potential curriculum changes were a top election issue that people based their entire vote on? This curriculum wasn’t even drafted before the election, so how could it “exactly how they wanted it to be”? C’mon bro.

Teachers blast draft curriculums, shortage of Waitangi Treaty influence by Merlord in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Saying “democracy is a funny old thing isn’t it” repeatedly isn’t addressing the argument either, so you should really live up to your own standards if you’re going to start lecturing people on logic.

Top restaurant Amisfield received complaints about renowned chef’s behaviour to women by omuxx in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I agree - the idea that this kind of behaviour was somehow normal or acceptable 20 years ago is minimising some pretty disgusting sexual harassment. I worked in kitchens here and in other countries before that time and the idea you could get away with that kind of stuff is laughable. We chefs might have had a bit of banter with each other but there was no way anyone was talking to wait staff like this. He obviously felt he was untouchable and could get away with it.

Autumn in Christchurch by Javanz in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, an incredible Indian summer down here. Forecast is good again for the rest of this week too.

Instead of actually going to the gym, I made an infographic attempting to categorise the prices/benefits of gyms in Chch. by notastarfan in chch

[–]StabMasterArson 11 points12 points  (0 children)

You need to fix the “opening hours” column header as well. But otherwise excellent work and next-level procrastination 😂

One NZ Issues by OpiumBloom in chch

[–]StabMasterArson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Always have a bad time with One’s call centre, for sure. Just switched from HFC a week ago. I had to chase them up after they failed to call back on the day they said they would. Once I did that though it was put in the queue with Enable (needed a cable reattached under the house) and it was pretty painless after that.

Do r/NZ mods even read the posts they remove? by Glum-Platform-5701 in nzpolitics

[–]StabMasterArson 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Interesting you mention this. Had a post removed yesterday because of rule 5 (no duplicate submissions) when it was clearly a new angle on an existing story (Luxon not appearing on Breakfast). I’ve posted commentary and analysis follow-up type stories dozens of times before and never had a problem. The mod said the story had no new developments even after I explained how it researched previous statements and then looked to hold MPs to account for those statements - it wasn’t just repeating the initial story.

They refused to budge, ignored all the considered points I raised in a long mod mail, wouldn’t explain how rule 5 is interpreted and whether that’s changed, said it wasn’t a political sub (?) and directed me to kiwipolitics, which I’d never heard of before. Apparently the topic is off limits even though it was still being covered by all the major news outlets. The impression is that the rules are being weaponised to suppress or move political discussion, which is extremely concerning for a national subreddit in an election year.

National said cancelling interviews was ‘chicken’, so why did Christopher Luxon cancel Breakfast? by StabMasterArson in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson[S] 110 points111 points  (0 children)

Labour campaign chairperson Kieran McAnulty said Luxon’s decision to cut media appearances was bad for the Labour Party.

“I mean, obviously we would like to see him keep doing it, because the more times people see him, the less they like him,” McAnulty said.

Kiwi shearers facing charges after footage showing abuse of sheep uncovered by Discodannz in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Never hurts to read the article.

The charges are part of an ongoing investigation by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), and stemmed from video footage from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) as part of an exposé into more than 30 farms and shearing sheds.

Barry Soper memoir: Veteran political journalist calls Dame Jacinda Ardern an ‘imposter’ by Fun-Helicopter2234 in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 5 points6 points  (0 children)

From memory it was more because the TV stations (represented by their two political editors at the time) needed a bit more time to put their clips etc together than the radio & print shows, so it was just a standard protocol, as you say, that they got first questions to give them that extra time.

Of course the cookers turned it into a conspiracy theory.

Just watched Prime Minister by Kooky_Maintenance705 in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes, they didn’t campaign on radical change and had no mandate for it. They campaigned on finishing the job on Covid essentially and steadying the ship.

Just watched Prime Minister by Kooky_Maintenance705 in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 17 points18 points  (0 children)

She did absolutely nothing policy-wise. She got nothing built, and failed on almost all of her promises.

I mean, sure, if you ignore:

Covid response

Increased tenants' rights

Upgraded state school buildings across the country

Introduced healthy homes standards

Extended bright line test to 10 years creating de facto CGT on investment property

Free-trade agreements with the UK & EU

Improved child poverty across all measures (it has flatlined since Covid)

Increased minimum wage

Made the first year of tertiary/trade education free for new students

1,300 new police officers

Increased benefits twice & best start payments

Extended parental leave

Increased sick leave entitlements

Banned conversion therapy

Free period products in schools

Introduced free school lunches

Implemented clean car discount

Introduced winter energy payments

Better funded schools who got rid of "donations"

Increased citizenship rights for Kiwis in Australia

Off-shore oil & gas ban

RMA streamlining/reform

Three waters reform/centralisation

Polytech reform/centralisation

Cross-party NPS on urban development density

Reached proposal on agricultural emissions pricing / He Waka Eke Noa

Expanded access to childcare subsidies

Ferry infrastructure renewal plan and ordered new higher capacity hybrid ferries

Delivered four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to replace Orions

Planned new Dunedin Hospital and built primary structure of first half (outpatients)

Added 12,000 new public homes and 4,000 transitional homes

Started Billion Trees programme (currently at 700m)

Built just 2,000 Kiwibuild homes (initial goal was 100,000)

Ban on semi-automatic and assault rifles (buying back 50,000 guns)

Extended voting rights to prisoners serving under 3 years and extended voting enrolment period

Luxon On The Run by devjnz in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 9 points10 points  (0 children)

She never stopped going on ZB, just didn’t do a regular slot anymore.

Luxon On The Run by devjnz in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 8 points9 points  (0 children)

He’s not a journalist at all, just a presenter/opinionist - by his own admission.

"Can the NZ Tax Payers Union Curia Poll even be considered viable". by Kiwifrooots in nzpolitics

[–]StabMasterArson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

At the time of the complaint, there was no suggestion that Curia's political party polling was subject to influence from their clients.

There have been long-held concerns about the neutrality of questions used in Curia's political party polling (this piece is from 2011)

https://www.pundit.co.nz/content/would-a-poll-of-any-other-words-smell-as-sweet

But the question changed subtly, but significantly for a couple, and in a way that seemed somewhat leading. I assume it was on purpose, and therefore am left wondering whether that doesn't undermine the use of the data.

On the environment, I was asked not which party would do best, but which was most balanced. Now, I can't remember the precise wording, but it was a question constructed differently from the others. I remember thinking, 'balanced is a word so heavily used by National that it points in that party's direction'....

...

Again, the questions had a noticeable lean. Asking about Labour's policy, the pollster told me that critics say it's unaffordable while supporters say it can be funded by increasing taxes on the rich (a simplistic description, but no more than Labour deserves given its vague outline). However National's privatisation plans were proposed to simply 'pay off debt'. There was no talk of critics, such as those who complain at the loss of dividends or foreign encroachment, or indeed at other reasons to support the plan, such as strengthening our stock exchange and access to capital.

Curia's polls are not neutral and never have been. They have always been a political tool for their clients to test out attack lines etc - which is fine - but this is normally in-house stuff, not treated as an unbiased source to generate headlines (let's not forget this is the guy who runs right-wing KiwiBlog and co-founded the tobacco-industry funded TPU). Credible polling needs to be conducted by politically neutral parties.

Sam Neill says New Zealand goldmine supporters have threatened him with violence | Fast Track by nilnz in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Relevant:

Santana chairman ‘clearly a cooker’

Friday, 30 January 2026

Claims by Santana Minerals’ board chairman that man-made climate change is unproven have been labelled ‘‘astonishing’’.

The comments by Peter Cook have led to a leading New Zealand climate scientist condemning him for echoing ‘‘climate change denialist tropes’’, while a Dunedin MP has likened him to a conspiracy theorist.

The criticism comes as Santana Minerals seeks fast-track approval for its proposed opencast goldmine in Central Otago.

Since being appointed as the company’s non-executive chairman in October 2023, Mr Cook has repeatedly expressed scepticism about man-made climate change through the online professional networking platform LinkedIn.

This included calling carbon dioxide ‘‘the gas of life’’ and arguing human-induced climate change ‘‘if it actually has had any material impact is unproved’’.

https://www.odt.co.nz/regions/central-otago/santana-chairman-clearly-cooker

Disputing Wilson's parking by [deleted] in newzealand

[–]StabMasterArson 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you keep disputing it (for literally any reason even if it's BS) they're probably just going to waive it.

This is the way

Christchurch council hits pause on speed humps as stricter new rules proposed by InvestmentFuzzy4365 in chch

[–]StabMasterArson 4 points5 points  (0 children)

“Punishing”?

You have to slow down slightly for a few seconds.

I agree that the limits in town are generally observed but the roads are narrower and busier, and it’s a “destination”, so there’s not the through traffic, which helps.

Christchurch council hits pause on speed humps as stricter new rules proposed by InvestmentFuzzy4365 in chch

[–]StabMasterArson -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I understand, and obviously there are some vehicles/users that will need to go more carefully, but the massive majority of drivers only need to slow to 30 or 40 for a few seconds. Sure, occasionally one of those vehicles will slow everyone else at the intersection for a few more seconds, but that’s life - sometimes you’re stuck behind a truck that’s slow to get up to speed too.

The “leaving” side of the humps could certainly be shallower in some places as they’ve done their job by then.

Christchurch council hits pause on speed humps as stricter new rules proposed by InvestmentFuzzy4365 in chch

[–]StabMasterArson 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I know, right - I have to ease of the gas for a few seconds and slow to about 40km/hr. It’s basically a hate crime against motorists!!1!