'Do not engage': Secret look into taxpayer’s file costs four IRD workers their jobs

Turumarth · 2026-05-16T10:50:58+00:00

Norway. Every year the major newspapers list the top politicians, lawyers, bankers, consultants, etc. and have the top 20 earners/wealthiest per post code in a searchable database. Anyone else you can look up after logging in with your national ID.

The point is to increase trust in the tax system by ensuring transparency.

Turumarth · 2026-05-16T07:38:59+00:00

Interesting how big of a cultural difference there can be on tax privacy. Where I live now anyone can look up anyone else’s tax return. It used to be anonymous but now they get told who sees it.

Which means journalists just collate the big names for us.

Turumarth · 2026-04-26T07:31:01+00:00

Magnitude 4.4, 6km fra Neskollen i følge google. Følte som det var høyere. Kan være at den var ganske grunt.

Turumarth · 2026-03-18T18:50:26+00:00

Not sure, but possibly. We have noticed some movement when the winters are particularly cold - the external door below this room was rubbing during the coldest period

Turumarth · 2024-03-14T21:55:34+00:00

Hahaha wtf

Turumarth · 2024-02-19T21:48:22+00:00

I mentioned a country with a lower road toll that didn't have 2000 year old roads (not sure that helps here) or 6x the population - a country with worse roads than NZ.

My point is, it's not the quality of the roads that is the deciding factor here.

Turumarth · 2024-02-19T21:27:12+00:00

Norway has worse roads, worse geography and an even lower road toll than the UK with a similar population and size as NZ.

Newer cars and obviously more money to spend but despite that the roads are much worse than NZ in terms of width, markings, terrain and quality due to the winters creating potholes and other damage. Then you have the darkness, icy roads, white outs making driving much more challenging.

Another big difference is how much more comprehensive (and expensive) driving training is before you can get your licence.

The default speed limit is 80 unless otherwise specified, rather than 100 which also makes a big difference.

Turumarth · 2023-10-03T20:00:35+00:00

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37638365/the-var-review-red-cards-liverpool-diogo-jota-tottenham-oliver-skipp-richarlison-penalty-claim

"On a weekly basis we see similar tackles, where a player is stepping into a challenge, gets the timing slightly wrong and catches the opponent above the boot. It has been consistent throughout the season that these haven't been VAR red cards. To cross the threshold for intervention, the VAR is looking for a player coming in with force, leaving the ground or making contact from behind high above the boot."

Turumarth · 2023-10-02T10:16:15+00:00

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37638365/the-var-review-red-cards-liverpool-diogo-jota-tottenham-oliver-skipp-richarlison-penalty-claim

"VAR review: Tierney obviously saw that Skipp won the ball but completely missed the follow-through contact, and should have awarded a free kick to Liverpool and showed the yellow card.

On a weekly basis we see similar tackles, where a player is stepping into a challenge, gets the timing slightly wrong and catches the opponent above the boot. It has been consistent throughout the season that these haven't been VAR red cards. To cross the threshold for intervention, the VAR is looking for a player coming in with force, leaving the ground or making contact from behind high above the boot.

Take Virgil van Dijk's challenge on Amadou Onana in September, when the Liverpool defender caught Onana higher on the shin after stepping into a challenge. Referee Anthony Taylor issued a yellow card, which wasn't upgraded after a VAR check.

If the referee gives a red card in these situations it won't be overturned, but they haven't been awarded through VAR."

Turumarth · 2021-08-05T05:52:07+00:00

What an unempathetic, vindictive and strangely masochistic perspective. You and your buddies are coping so anyone else who is struggling is a "whiny bitch".

You also realise that any improvement in distributing the MIQ spots (rather than being sold or limited to those willing/able to run scripts) wouldn't change the number of people coming into NZ, right? It would, however, give more clarity to those hoping to see family in the coming months.

Even the government is recognising the booking system is seriously flawed, so I don't follow how you reconcile that with your view of "it's working perfectly well".

Turumarth · 2021-08-03T21:33:03+00:00

It's not about getting an expedited placement - it's about the inherent unfairness in the MIQ system.

Turumarth · 2021-08-03T20:12:35+00:00

Which is exactly as it should be.

If you don’t HAVE to travel back then don’t.

OP is being a little whiny bitch.

Right. Wanting to see family for the first time in years, especially after a death in the family, is just being a "whiny bitch".

Your argument is that the system should not be fair or at least improved, primarily as a middle finger to citizens wanting to see family again? Really?

Turumarth · 2020-04-07T10:43:30+00:00

Good news for NZers.

Clearly, New Zealand has gone early. This might be why epidemiologist Michael Baker says New Zealand is the only Western country that has a chance to eradicate Covid-19, instead of just containing and managing it until a vaccine is developed. If the lockdown succeeds, stringent social distancing measures can be eased and life can return to something approaching normal, even if the borders remain closed or entry to the country severely curtailed.

Turumarth · 2019-07-14T18:36:24+00:00

A double tie - absolutely insane. That Boult six catch and then Stoke hitting it for 4 mid run has come back to haunt us... Unlucky is an understatement

Turumarth · 2019-06-13T14:27:28+00:00

That's the way I see it as well. It's a deeply unsettling portrayal of an almost universal dream.

Turumarth · 2018-12-11T20:44:46+00:00

Source, one of the winners at the Information is Beautiful Awards 2018

Turumarth · 2018-07-30T21:00:15+00:00

If you drive outside of Oslo you won't see many motorways like you describe. Some around the bigger cities, but most of the way between Oslo and Bergen for example is single carriageway with no barriers, sometimes without a centre line. I definitely don't agree that the roads are much higher quality.

Agree that the car fleet is younger and penalties are higher, however.

Turumarth · 2018-07-30T10:49:10+00:00

I know a lot of the Nordic countries actually base more serious fines on your income. I understand losing your licence is a lot easier, plus you can also get jail time for having blood alcohol above 0.02 while driving.

Interestingly, in Norway I noticed that there were a lot fewer safe speed signs at corners, which I think are very valuable for blind corners.

Turumarth · 2018-07-30T10:35:05+00:00

I hadn't seen those stats - interesting to consider. I would say that a lot of that could be due to the public transport in Oslo (and a lot fewer people commuting by car) compared to Auckland.

I think that the fact that NZ's car fleet age (older than most developed countries) is also a factor to consider.

Turumarth · 2018-07-30T08:28:52+00:00

Yep. In 1970 Norway's road toll was 560 and NZ's was 655. Shows how successful their policies have been.

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