14 Comments

Dear MT you are invaluable to your readers because you tell us plainly exactly what is going on in this sanctimonious and dishonest government!! It helps keep our eyes open when we are exhausted by the artillery being used to rob us of our rights and our integrity!!⭐️

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Thank you I admit it is tiring under this lot - cheers Judith.

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I honestly don't know how you put up with listening to his smarmy lies, or looking at his creepy face while you're editing these, but thank you! I wonder what his cut from foreign plunderers is? He's been planning this uplift in his own personal wealth for a very long time 😡😡

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I can't do it either but consider it public service because it pays to know what this lot are planning.

He looks really optimistic yesterday at the press conference talking up his government - and I can't forget that he's cashed up and ready for once in a lifetime investment opportunities. I believe Alan Gibbs, the Atlas Network guy who funds David Seymour, got wealthy through privatisation of national assets too.

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Yes not only did Gibbs (and business partner Trevor Farmer) make millions selling off Telecom.... he then left the country bemoaning the possiblity of having to pay tax on those gains. Really it is sickening the level of smug sense of entitledment they display.

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Agreed! Have you listened to the Master Plan podcast? https://www.levernews.com/masterplan/ This is an exceptional in-depth investigation into the dark money plan to legalise corruption in the US. It's extremely relevant to our situation in Aotearoa.

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I have not - how much can one take? :-)

But more seriously I am not surprised to hear that at all - one of the revelations of my research and a deeper understanding of our political machinations and the characters in power brings me back to the many articles in our own sphere about dark money - and the power of those interests manifests itself in climate doubt, Brexit, Voice Australia and the Trump presidency - and more locally our own political figures.

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How much more indeed? These are horrifying times!!! Our physical distance is no longer an impediment to being drawn into a global kleptocracy that has been under construction for decades. It's so frustrating that these people have polluted our discourse with conspiratorial disinformation to such an extent that when they do show their hand it's easy to write off legitimate dissent as consipratorial thinking. Your exceptional research and clear communication are invaluable in these times. Kia kaha, arohanui 💚💚

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Goodness me, what a summary MT. And you're on point. One of the key concerns I have with regard to self certifying is exactly for the reasons you noted - leaky homes were a direct result of decisions made by previous Govts that affected local government policy. It's disheartening to know that due to the cost of living crisis, many Kiwis won't have time to actually study these political decisions carefully...

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The media is officially useless - and bought out. I read recently that Stuff's owner has her own political ambitions and hence we saw so many hit pieces on Tory Whanau.

I haven't looked into that one but the fact that Luxon is signalling this stuff loudly and it's not being covered - is testament to our system.

As to the self-certification, it sure looks like a good return on investment for the property developers who donated big to ACT and National.

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Thanks MT. National were signaling privatisation before the election and of course Act believes in it. This beautiful country is going to be broken.

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Yes indeed and their signals are getting more pronounced and they've been working on removing the legislation and roadblocks over the last year.

That means they will open us next year and it's really going to be so sad, and these long term implications are significant for us all.

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😁 I think it would be delicious irony if the Insurance industry (making money off bad things potentially happening) stymies the "self-certification" nonsense 🤷 After all, although OUR abysmal current "leaders" choose to ignore history, all the Ins Co's are GLOBAL enterprises who DO know & remember failures of capitalist-aligned "policies" which caused them huge payouts & losses. Indeed, action on climate change in Florida will likely be driven by Ins Co's refusing to insure properties (private & commercial) in the areas being most affected by constant adverse weather events 🤔

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I suspect this government will try to sell the MasterBuild type programs more - they aren't the type to back down or care about long term implications, and they control enough of the narrative out there to be pretty damn reckless and bold at this point.

We will have to see how this one unfolds for sure!

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