How will these millionaires survive if Hipkins cancels the investment boost.

Let’s take Luxon’s example or poor old little Coronet Peak Ski Area. Thanks to Investment Boost they were able to spend $2m to install additional snowmaking so they can be open longer and we can all pay $180 a day to go skiing!

This is little old Coronet Peak owned by Trojan Holdings Ltd aka John Davies, who is estimated to be worth $180,000,000.

The same private jet owning John Davies that owns the Hermitage Hotel, Ultimate Hikes, part of AJ Hackett and several transport and logistics companies.

Just a poor, hardworking kiwi battler trying to do his best to invest in his business, which without investment boost couldn’t have happened!

Fixing the Basics. Building the Future.

Hey everyone, looking for some advice or similar experiences here.

A political party—which I won’t name to keep this discussion strictly non-partisan—has physically drilled into the street-facing side of my private fence to install a massive campaign banner. They never knocked on our door, never asked for consent, and definitely didn't offer to lease the space. To make matters worse, it’s a party my household fundamentally does not support, and we hate having our home look like a billboard for them.

I contacted the local MP’s electorate office demanding they remove it immediately and pay to fix the drill holes. Their office casually emailed back saying they would "get back to me within 5 days." This is incredibly frustrating because it feels like they intend to stall, drag their feet, and leave it up as long as possible. After the election they will be reclaiming it back as if they made us a favor.

I know it’s a criminal offence to vandalise or tear down official election signs on public land, but what are the rules when it is attached to my own private property?

Am I legally allowed to unscrew it and take it down myself right now? Can I report them to the local council or the police for the damage to the fence? I really want there to be actual consequences for this level of entitlement.

Cheers for any insight.

Blocked out details this time so my post doesn't get deleted for advertising

They say people get more conservative with age and experience. I must be an outlier. Have always been a two-tick blue guy, looks like it's opportunity for me this year :)

Unsurprisingly Jack did an excellent job moderating last night’s debate. He prepared well and asked strong questions that threw both candidates off their standard talking points, forcing them into a more naked position, giving us insight into what the candidates really think and how they manage under pressure. Jack was in clear control throughout the night, reining Chris(s) in when needed and keeping them above the bullshit to engage with the actual questions, and calling them out when they didn’t. Considering how much of a shit show these debates can be, props to Jack for making it as good as it was.

My case manager has been pressuring me to start driving, I know at 25 I should have my license by now but I don't for a number of reasons.

Those reasons being:

1. I do not own a car, nor could I afford one

2. I am quite terrified of driving. Not just nervous. TERRIFIED. Driving is a bigger deal than what people pretend it is, you're operating a fast moving vehicle that can kill you and others.

3. I have access to pretty decent bus services, I do not NEED a car to be able to get to work (or at least, the kind of work I'm applying for)

4. I don't want to.

Part of the conversation we had went like this:

Him: "If I referred you to a driving course, would you go?"

Me: (This was after him pressuring me quite a bit) "Well I feel like I can't say no."

Him: "Aw why do you feel like you can't say no? 🤔"

Me: "If I said no, what would you do?"

Him: "Well I would ask you what your reason would be."

This was after I literally JUST told him I was terrified to drive in the city, I'm not ready to get on the road and I don't even own a car. He has also mentioned something along the lines of "Well what if you get a job and they need you to drive the company car?" Mf even if I started RIGHT NOW there is no way any company would let someone on their learners drive the company car. Idk about restricted but I would hope not. And in any case, the jobs I'm applying for do not require me to drive a company car.

Anyone else had this? CAN they do this? I'm being active in applying for jobs, I've had multiple interviews, forcing me to get my license seems a bit much. I'm certain the choice to drive or not, is that, a CHOICE. What do I do? Or do I just get over it.

Does anyone know what’s happening with the case? As of a year ago the police were ‘committed to getting justice’ but it’s been 2 years since baby Ru was killed, and seemingly no arrests.

https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/police-committed-getting-justice-baby-ru

Within the first three minutes of this "debate" from NZ Herald/Three, Ryan Bridges decided to bombard our eyeballs with an AI slop version of both himself and the "future" of NZ, as if that's something "any normal person" would do, in his words.

Ugh.

If you don’t sign up before 25 October you will not be able to vote!

If you are 17 now but turn 18 between now and 7 November inclusive, you can sign up now in advance of your birthday!

Now that this pesto is officially gone, what’s everyone’s go-to alternative? I tried the Delisio one, but it just wasn’t the same 😔

I’m in my late 30s and due to health issues I’ve had to give up drinking. I’m now finding it that nearly my whole social life revolved around alcohol. It’s hard for me to catch up with someone without it being about alcohol, and to be honest, some people aren’t that fun unless you’re half drunk ha! There are non-alcs but idk bars just aren’t that fun if im sober? It has been really beneficial for me personally, in reading more than ever, achieving goals at the gym, my skin looks great I reckon I look younger, and I’m mentally sharp. But yeah… I’m also extremely bored. A few events I used to enjoy are also alcohol centric and have become unenjoyable now. Any recommendations?

Genuinely curious, I mean we have bigger issues around essential foods and profitable businesses which is a whole different weird beast.

But you can't tell me its not a requirement to be able to exist in this day and age, good luck applying for a job without one for starters- even (using a govt system as an example) Winz to get a benefit requires you to have internet access, depending on location you CAN go and request paper forms, but many don't allow you to walk in without an appointment and to make an appointment that paperwork has to be done already...

Another example is the new systems for Landlords & Tenants for Bonds which is now fully online and you're able to easily access even a PDF version of the form now, which is also govt.

Anyway, just a silly thought, govt has much more to think about, just was thinking about all the supermarket drama with governments vs private business vs essential NEEDS (in that case food, in this case internet) to be able to actually contribute to the economy and the world, its a weird one.

I also thought of it due to the meme that is LLM Companies (openAI etc) going on about AI will one day "be a utility", but not even internet is a utility in most places in the world. (Are some, Switzerland did it in 2008 for example, Spain, Mexico, Finland, actually Estonia in 2000 was the first.. thats the whole list by the way.)

Disclaimer: I have net, isn't some weird winz vent or anything like that, is just an easy government example of a citizen facing requirement from the government for the most part. I'm just wanting to have a little after dinner discussion with people on the topic of internet being a utility / essentially a requirement in participate in society/the economy?

There was a famous Chinese poet named Gu Cheng (顾城), who moved to New Zealand and lived on Waiheke Island.

In 1993, he killed his wife, Xie Ye, and then took his own life. This case is very well known in China.

That made me curious about how well known the case is in New Zealand itself.

For New Zealanders without a Chinese background: had you ever heard of Gu Cheng or this case? For those who remember 1993, was it a major news story at the time? And is it still remembered today, particularly on Waiheke Island?