Talleys Jump the Shark!

Written By: - Date published: 9:36 pm, April 28th, 2016 - 68 comments
Categories: Abuse of power, capitalism, class war, discrimination, Unions, workers' rights - Tags: , , ,

NZ’s worst employer, Talley’s, have been moaning to the Employment Relations Authority that the Meat Workers Union have been mean and nasty to them. They want the court to order the union to stop telling the truth about how they brutalise their employees. Laughably, they say that the union’s use of social media to highlight the company’s many, many breaches of employment law is not ‘good faith’ behaviour.

The irony of that claim is almost beyond parody. This is the organisation that locks out workers who choose to join the union, who have been found to have breached hundreds of worker’s employment rights by not recognising their collective agreement and has illegally barred MWU officials from visiting their processing plants.

If Talley’s knows anything about good faith, it’s only that having loads of money means you can ignore your obligations in that area. So how have they jumped the shark?

They’ve gone to the court to demand that Darien Fenton, the union’s remarkably persistent Director of Organising, be effectively sacked. She’s done such a good job, they want the court to order that she not be allowed to continue doing such a good job. They want the right to determine which union officials can be used by the union.In the past, that’s been something only union members got to decide. But democracy’s such an old fashioned concept, right?

Bear in mind that they routinely bar MWU officials from doing their job anyway, no matter who they are, and were, indeed, recently fined a whopping $144,000 for repeated breaches of union access rights.  In addition, they’ve been ordered to pay that sum directly to the Meat Workers Union, not the court. A penalty that large is almost without precedent in NZ employment law. Ordering that it be paid to the union is equally unusual. By the way, in that case, Talley’s have decided to appeal.  Not the decision, mind you, just the amount. They accept they are bastards, but they just want to carry on being bastards on the cheap.

 

But back to the current situation.

The Talley’s workers have cleverly and effectively used social media to organise.  Union (and non union) workers talk to each other around their issues and disputes on blogs, facebook, instagram and the like. They share stories, they offer support, they look after each other. But now Talley’s are trying to shut all of those exchanges down in the name of ‘good faith’. Talley’s believe that the truth is best suppressed.

Too late, really. Everyone reading this already knows Talley’s record;  they’ve been found guilty of multiple breaches of workers rights over decades, and more recently have organised unlawful lockouts of workers and multiple breaches of good faith in their North Island AFFCO plants and denied workers public holidays.

Many AFFCO employees and other Talley’s workers have taken to Facebook with secret sites where they can express their opinion.   Why?  Because the digital world is the one place where Talley’s employees are safe. At least for now.

Talley’s has repeatedly banned union organiser access despite Employment Authority decisions, refuses union meetings in work-time, have closed union offices and won’t allow the delegates to meet.  Union newsletters are banned, with one worker being disciplined for even reading one.  According to their Human Resources manager “delegates don’t exist”. Talley’s want blind, mute and fearful obedience.

In August last year, the company filed claims of breaches of good faith in the Court alleging that because the Meat Workers Union is a “cornerstone supporter” of the Martyn Bradbury’s Daily Blog, posts from John Minto and Mike Treen there were evidence of the union’s  breach of good faith.

This was part of their claim to end collective bargaining with the MWU under the National Party’s new anti-union laws.

This case was adjourned sine die when a full bench of the Employment Court ruled on the company’s actual breaches of good faith last November and their unlawful lockouts of AFFCO workers when they attempted to implement company individual agreements last year.

All these cases are still before the court and due to be heard in July, along with the MWU’s application to ‘fix’ the terms of the collective agreement, under a never before used provision of the Employment Relations Act.

That provision has never been used before because no NZ company has ever previously been this obstinately opposed to collective bargaining.

Talley’s current attempt to stifle free speech is an application filed for an “interim compliance order” requiring the Meat Workers Union, its officials and agents to “comply with the duty of good faith by ceasing and desisting from publishing on any website, twitter account or other site viewable on the internet, items referring to the applicant or its parent company or officers that are unbalanced, misleading, untruthful, and/or derogatory until further order of the Authority.”

What’s more, they now seek to use the “good faith” claim to control who represents the workers with a specific claim to exclude Darien Fenton from meetings and mediations.

So who’s affected?  The “officials” of the union include every elected rank and file Shed President, Secretary and Vice President who work in meat works other than those owned or controlled by Talley’s.  It could also arguably include every member because the union is its members. They’re not only trying to gag their own workers, but every other worker in the industry.

Is anyone who publishes anything negative about Talley’s an agent?  Apparently so. Given that they disciplined a worker who merely read a union newsletter, you might find yourself on the receiving end of their legal bullying just for reading this post.

These sods want to shut all dissent down. They want to carry on their whippings in perfect silence. I say no fucken way, Talleys. As long as I have this platform, as long as I know that TS readers have a heart, I’m going to keep publicising their bastardry. It’s the least I can do.

The least you can do, dear reader, is check out the MWU’s excellent support page. You might like to help the union fund raise by buying a T Shirt while you’re there. Just don’t wear it anywhere near a Talley’s plant. They’re banned. It’s almost too pathetic for words, but words are just about all these workers have left to fight with.

 

 

https://tereoputake.wordpress.com/

twitter.com/tereoputake

tereoputake@gmail.com

 

 

68 comments on “Talleys Jump the Shark! ”

  1. One Anonymous Bloke 1

    Human rights violators, profiting from the proceeds of human rights abuses. The only way Tory trash ever take personal responsibility is by force. Confiscate their assets under the proceeds of crime act, or they’ll just keep on doing it: buying the National Party and attacking New Zealanders.

    Get tough on crime. Jailtime for Talley.

  2. McFlock 2

    Is it too soon to take Sir Peter Talley’s knighthood away from him?

    A thousand years ago knighthoods were bestowed by the powerful upon the privileged as a reward for preserving oppression.

    Nothing in that has changed.

    Fucking Talleys. They need different brands in supermarkets just to make it difficult to remember which ones to boycott.

  3. vto 3

    The union should get a court order banning talleyarseholes from the place of employment

  4. vto 4

    three strikes and you’re out

    isn’t it?

    • The problem is that this behaviour is unlawful, but not punished in a way that means anything to Talley’s. The fines are chickenfeed to them. And, of course, the generous donations to right wing politicians have their own reward.

      • vto 4.1.1

        Yep, well the problem is clearly the same as Rodney Hide highlighted with his three strikes law…

        Should apply to the likes of Talleys…. three strikes and you are permanently banned from being an employer..

        that’s get them some learnings …..

        .

  5. Macro 5

    It’s about time that Talley’s was closed down. Permanently.

    • Incognito 5.1

      Might you be overlooking something?

      • Macro 5.1.1

        No.
        I know what your saying – but it is about time employers were licensed to employ – if they persistently offended as employers they would have their license removed.
        In the case of Talleys they are such serial offenders they should never be allowed to be given the responsibility of employing workers ever again.

        • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.1

          Who is going to pay for this licensing system and the training/audit/enforcement bureaucracy that it is going to require?

          Are small NZ employers with 10 or fewer employees going to have to be licensed as well?

          Won’t this further drive the increased use of “contractors” instead of “employees” throughout the entire economy?

          • You_Fool 5.1.1.1.1

            Sell the licenses; and take the capital and land of any employer who have their license stripped through unethical behavior. This can then be sold to a new “owner” with the acquisition of a new license.

          • TopHat 5.1.1.1.2

            It would be paid for by the employers themselves and would especially include small employers with fewer than 10 employees. They are the worse offenders.
            If you can’t afford employees you can’t have them!

            • Reddelusion 5.1.1.1.2.1

              View your so called brilliant idea not on intention but the result of such a reduculous proposition,

          • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.1.3

            I hope Labour or Greens run with your suggestions. They’ll have a huge impact. Of sorts. Ahem.

        • Incognito 5.1.1.2

          I suspected we were on the same page. I recently suggested an ethical licence but not limited to journalists http://thestandard.org.nz/guest-post-tick-tick-tick/#comment-1164539

          Ethics should be taught at schools IMO. You can now get NCEA credits for driver licences but in this day & age of Roast Busters driving a car is more important than ethics at NZ schools, it seems. I’m sure Key & Parata are comfortable with this.

          • Colonial Viper 5.1.1.2.1

            Ethics taught in schools??? Kids have fine ethics from school. Dude the place where ethics needs to be taught is in work places and middle management!!!

            • Shifty 5.1.1.2.1.1

              Ooh +1

            • tinfoilhat 5.1.1.2.1.2

              Thank you CV – as a teacher around the secondary schools in Auckland i absolutely concur !

            • Sacha 5.1.1.2.1.3

              Their parents, on the other hand ..

            • Et Tu Brute 5.1.1.2.1.4

              Ha! For once I agree with Colonial Viper. If you want a different perspective on life and ethics go to a teenager. Depending on age gap and gender you might end up with a restraining order but you do learn a lot even if you have to filter it with an adult mind.

            • Incognito 5.1.1.2.1.5

              Your reply is lazy, incomplete, and inconsistent.

              Moral development starts at a very young age and should never stop; I agree with that much, although that’s not really what you said, is it?

              • Colonial Viper

                Only a Stalinist believes that moral indoctrination is the role of the state.

                • Incognito

                  Utterly disingenuous and absurd comment.

                  Are you testing out a new hypothesis that provocation is effective as constructive criticism? In other words, winding up somebody else furthers your case/cause whatever that might be? If not, why bother with these silly replies?

                  • Colonial Viper

                    You’re ignorant about what and how kids are taught at primary school today, plus make the statist mistake that schools and official school curriculum is where children should learn their ethics from.

                    Hence my previous comment stands.

                    • Incognito

                      You have no idea about my ignorance about what is or is not taught at primary or secondary schools, so please stick to the facts, check your assumptions, or simply stop spreading around your biased opinions.

                      I’d very interested to hear, in your view, where and from whom children and adults should learn ethics. I hope you agree that ethics are not inborn or innate and that moral development relies on transferable knowledge. If schools have no role in this – what is their function? – then it leaves few other places & opportunities and ways to assimilate the necessary knowledge and critical independent thinking.

                      Lastly, IMO a lack of ethics is one of the main reasons why we’re facing major issues right now (e.g. GFC, GCC, refugee problem, inequality, etc.) and nothing much will change for the ‘better’ if this is not addressed. Then again, I’m just an ignorant nameless nobody and Stalinist.

  6. The Fairy Godmother 6

    I used to buy their frozen peas until I realised what they were like. Now I always buy watties or mccains to make sure I am not giving talley’s a cent.

  7. John Shears 7

    Can anyone let us know the brands that Talleys sell in NZ Supermarkets so that we can make sure that we don’t buy them.
    Their behaviour is disgusting and their attitude to their workers
    is like something from the dark ages.
    Sir Peter , what a sick joke.

  8. mickysavage 8

    Well said TRP. I get the feeling this is a war of attrition where Talleys are hoping to drain the MWU through legal costs …

    • Te Reo Putake 8.1

      You’re not wrong, ms. Talley’s routinely lose the cases they are involved in, but that doesn’t seem to bother them. I’ve been told that the score is something like 25-5 against in recent years. Not all of these involve the union; there are plenty of successful personal grievance cases taken by individuals too.

      The severity of the $144k award against them is interesting. It might be a sign that the legal fraternity are tiring of their vexatious approach to litigation.

      • Sacha 8.1.1

        if only courts were allowed to take a pattern of conduct into account in each case.

        • te reo putake 8.1.1.1

          Actually, they are, Sacha. Hence the big fines in the access case. They’ve got progressively larger with each breach. In this current case I’m told they’re appealing on the grounds that a series of separate breaches should be really be seen as just one big breach. That would drop the total penalty down from $144k to $8k, as I understand it. The maximum is 20 grand a time, so they’re well on the way to setting some records whatever the outcome of the appeal. I imagine further breaches will be hit harder.

  9. Jenny 9

    History shows that there is only one way to effectively deal with powerful hard nosed anti-union employer like Talleys.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flint_sit-down_strike

    In my opinion Talleys are driving the union to this position.

    History shows that they will live to regret it.

    • vto 9.1

      Interesting.

      Make sure a friendly ‘governor’ like they had is around though … “Governor Murphy sent in the U.S. National Guard, not to evict the strikers, but rather to protect them from the police and corporate strike-breakers.”

      • Jenny 9.1.1

        “Governor Murphy sent in the U.S. National Guard, not to evict the strikers, but rather to protect them from the police and corporate strike-breakers.”

        This was after events had been shaped by the sit down strikers. And when their victory was inevitable, where further state violence would have served no useful purpose. It was done to ‘Keep The Peace’, and to protect the police and the plant, as much as it was to protect the workers.

        Under other circumstances, Governor Murphy would have just as readily deployed the National Guard to the picket line to ‘Keep The Peace’ by keeping the workers locked out, while their work was done by others.

  10. Tiger Mountain 10

    great piece TRP–it is refreshing to read an unequivocal view amidst the digital soup that so often passes for political debate these days

    Talleyban now!! (if you are not already giving their brands the big swerve) an occasional “keying” in the chiller also does not go amiss

    if the unthinkable happened and the MWU were muzzled the rest of us (union supporters) will need to take to all media possible and assist, and hopefully the CTU will then call for a nationwide consumer boycott and put this ugly matter well and truly before the nation–it worked for the foodstuffs warehouse workers in 2005 when Laila Harre was fronting on John Campbell’s TV show nightly and it worked for Unite Union over zero hours in fast food

    corporates cannot be allowed to veto freedom of speech and association for citizens

  11. gsays 11

    I want to echo the well done trip.
    Succinctly put.

    From memory it was behaviour akin to talleys that the first unions sprung from. Essentially pushing and pushing the workforce till it had nothing to loose in striking back.

    I recall when talleys were misbehaving in the past, a standardista put up a list of names talleys products went by.
    Any chance of someone ressurecting the list?

    Again the power is in our hands.
    When we as a group act in unison we will be listened to.
    Eg only buy petrol from one company for 3 months.

  12. Hami Shearlie 12

    Maybe this link will help to identify which brands are Talley-owned!

    http://www.talleys.co.nz/about-us/our-company/

    • Chch_chiquita 12.1

      “Talley’s also processes and packs a range of private label products across the food range.” So, I could be buying their products without knowing!

      • Te Reo Putake 12.1.1

        That’s true. There may be clues in the small print (ie, if a product is packed in Motueka or Nelson, dollars to donuts it’s Talley’s). But the safer bet is to go for brands that are worker friendly like Watties or Alliance Meats. It might cost a few pennies more, but your heart will thank you for it.

        • Chch_chiquita 12.1.1.1

          Thanks. I’ll make sure I search for the clues as I do my best to buy ethically (stopped buying seafood for that reason) and locally produced.

    • gsays 12.2

      thank-you hs

  13. Rodel 13

    In supermarkets when I reach for meat or frozen products my hand recoils when I see the word Talleys- It’s almost a conditioned response. Must donate again to the MWU.

  14. Thank you so much to the Standard for posting this. I can’t tell you how much everything you say and do matters for the workers who are so up against it. Here’s another stoopid thing today from Talley owned Land Meats and their lawyer Graeme Malone. “I refer to the Mediation that is set for tomorrow (today) which the company had the hope and intent of attending for the purpose of concluding a bargaining process agreement. To conclude an agreement it follows that the Company needs an undertaking that in doing so at mediation the Union, including Darien Fenton who is the Union’s director of organising, will thereafter abide by the terms as per the agreed wording of the bargaining agreement relating to Land Meats and associated companies in accordance with the good faith provisions of the Act. As you will be aware proceedings are before the Authority right now arising from repeated breaches by Darien Fenton of the bargaining agreement between the union and Affco and the company sees that on-going behaviour as little different from that complained about in the writer’s letter of October last year.
    Accordingly the Company asks that the union does provide that undertaking and I would therefore be grateful if you could take urgent advise and confirm the union’s position.
    That came late last night. Dunno if mediation is proceeding, but I suspect it wont.

    • Te Reo Putake 14.1

      No worries, Darien, happy to be able to keep the heat on these guys. All the best to you and the union members. And fingers crossed the Employment Authority sees their claims against you personally for the bullying it is.

  15. Awww C-mon 15

    Talleys, some of the best employers I’ve had.

    Work hard, handle your shit, get rewarded.

    • Paul 15.1

      I’m alright Jack. Who cares about others?
      Does that sum up your world view?

      • Awww C-mon 15.1.1

        No Paul, But if you cared about the others around you would work hard too so the company you worked for was successful, not fuck around and work as slow as possible so the boys get another shift…

        Not that the MWU would suggest such things.

        • Paul 15.1.1.1

          What is your view on how Talleys have acted regarding free speech.
          I’m assuming you’re a libertarian/ACT aficionado so I’d imagine you’re all for free speech. Or are you only for speech you approve of?
          You’d share the same views of fre speech as Stalinist Russia or Mugabe’s Zimbabwe.
          Blinded by hatred it would appear.

          • Awww C-mon 15.1.1.1.1

            You shouldn’t assume anything Paul. Have you never learnt that lesson?

          • Sacha 15.1.1.1.2

            No point in engaging with a plant.

            • Awww C-mon 15.1.1.1.2.1

              Get a grip, an opposing opinion doesn’t have to be part of conspiracy. you think too much of yourself

              • McFlock

                While it wouldn’t be the first time that an employer being kicked by the courts has told a spokesperson to comment here and minimise their oppression of workers, you are completely correct.

                You might just be an idiot rather than a shill.

                • Awww C-mon

                  Proof McFlock,

                  I may just be an idiot, wasting my time on this echo chamber

                  • McFlock

                    Indeed.
                    Additionally, with the likes of you turning up alongside various tory trools, this is hardly an echo chamber.

                    So we seem to be in agreement – you’re an idiot.

                    But in the meantime, my decision against purchasing the talleys mussels that were on special yesterday was not determined by pseudonymous claims that they “extract their pound of flesh” but pay well for it. Their employment court track record,as reported in the post is what nailed it.

                    • Awww C-mon

                      Good on McFlock, you leave the Talley products on the shelf.

                      I will by preference look to purchase Talley products because I know the profits stay in NZ, the staff are mostly Kiwi’s and their products are all NZ made/grown.

                    • McFlock

                      I’d rather they go under and make way for a company that treats its workers well, according to the employment court.

                      It’s not like the fields will turn to tumbleweed if Talleys are run out of town.

    • lprent 15.2

      I guess you have very low expectations of employers. Must come from your previous history as an employee.

      Th ave all the hallmarks of being complete arseholes as employers. I wouldn’t rich anyone who have acted as they have over the last decade.

      And no, I have never been in a union.

      • Awww C-mon 15.2.1

        Screw you Lprent. Thats a shitty comment about my history which you know nothing about.

        It deserves a response like ” you have the hallmarks of an arsehole too, I doubt you could ‘rich’ anyone. You’d struggle to run a bath, much less a company”

    • te reo putake 15.3

      As you know, Talleys pay below industry rates. Skilled meat workers can do better, if they’re lucky enough to live in areas with alternatives. No point slagging the MWU, they’ve done a great job for industry workers for a long, long time. The issue isn’t the workers, anyway. It’s an anti democratic, bullying owner.

      Still, here’s a genuine offer. Prove me wrong. Organise a site visit for me. Let me talk to however I want, unimpeded. I’ll write it up honestly. Any plant, any time.

      • Awww C-mon 15.3.1

        TRP, From what I have read I dont doubt you or your offer to be genuine. It is several years since I was there and I would not have the contacts to organise it anymore, sorry.

        I was started at normal industry rates for my role.
        Was able to progress in both wages and conditions, on the back of hard work.
        I was never bullied, in fact the opposite. The Talleys and their management were both caring and supportive to me.
        Yes, they expected hard work, the got their pound of flesh. But they also offered reward. That seems fair to me!

  16. Paul 16

    I see you’ve clocked on, busily filling each thread with your diversionary nonsense.
    When do you clock off?
    What does it feel like, spinning the lines for the uber rich?

  17. NZJester 17

    I think they actually Jumped the shark long ago. Now they are just in the water with it beating it with a stick

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    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    1 day ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    4 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    5 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    5 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    5 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • There’s a name for this
    Every year, in the Budget, Parliament forks out money to government agencies to do certain things. And every year, as part of the annual review cycle, those agencies are meant to report on whether they have done the things Parliament gave them that money for. Agencies which consistently fail to ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    6 days ago
  • Echoes of 1968 in 2024?  Pocock on the repetitive problems of the New Left
    Mike Grimshaw writes – Recent events in American universities point to an underlying crisis of coherent thinking, an issue that increasingly affects the progressive left across the Western world. This of course is nothing new as anyone who can either remember or has read of the late ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Two bar blues
    The thing about life’s little victories is that they can be followed by a defeat.Reader Darryl told me on Monday night:Test again Dave. My “head cold” last week became COVID within 24 hours, and is still with me. I hear the new variants take a bit longer to show up ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    6 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 13
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Angus Deaton on rethinking his economics IMFLocal scoop: The people behind Tamarind, the firm that left a $500m cleanup bill for taxpayers at Taranaki’s Tui oil well, are back operating in Taranaki under a different company name. Jonathan ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • AT Need To Lift Their Game
    Normally when we talk about accessing public transport it’s about improving how easy it is to get to, such as how easy is it to cross roads in a station/stop’s walking catchment, is it possible to cycle to safely, do bus connections work, or even if are there new routes/connections ...
    6 days ago
  • Christopher's Whopper.
    Politicians are not renowned for telling the truth. Some tell us things that are verifiably not true. They offer statements that omit critical pieces of information. Gloss over risks, preferring to offer the best case scenario.Some not truths are quite small, others amusing in their transparency. There are those repeated ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago
  • Funding hole for tax cuts growing by the day
    The pressure is mounting on the Government as it finalises its Budget Policy Statement, but yet more predicted revenue ‘goes missing’. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Climate Commission has delivered another funding blow to the National-ACT-NZ First coalition Government’s tax-cutting plans, potentially carving $1.4 billion off the ‘climate ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    6 days ago
  • Luxon’s brave climate change promise
    The Government now faces the prospect of having to watch another tax raise the price of petrol when, only six days ago, it abolished the Auckland Regional Fuel tax. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon argued that the regional fuel tax imposed costs on lower-income people with less fuel-efficient vehicles  and that ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    6 days ago

  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
    Tēna koutou katoa. Greetings everyone. Thank you to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce and the Honourable Simon Bridges for hosting this address today. I acknowledge the business leaders in this room, the leaders and governors, the employers, the entrepreneurs, the investors, and the wealth creators. The coalition Government shares your ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Singapore rounds out regional trip
    Minister Winston Peters completed the final leg of his visit to South and South East Asia in Singapore today, where he focused on enhancing one of New Zealand’s indispensable strategic partnerships.      “Singapore is our most important defence partner in South East Asia, our fourth-largest trading partner and a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Minister van Velden represents New Zealand at International Democracy Summit
    Minister of Internal Affairs and Workplace Relations and Safety, Hon. Brooke van Velden, will travel to the Republic of Korea to represent New Zealand at the Third Summit for Democracy on 18 March. The summit, hosted by the Republic of Korea, was first convened by the United States in 2021, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Insurance Council of NZ Speech, 7 March 2024, Auckland
    ICNZ Speech 7 March 2024, Auckland  Acknowledgements and opening  Mōrena, ngā mihi nui. Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho.  Good morning, it’s a privilege to be here to open the ICNZ annual conference, thank you to Mark for the Mihi Whakatau  My thanks to Tim Grafton for inviting me ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Five-year anniversary of Christchurch terror attacks
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Lead Coordination Minister Judith Collins have expressed their deepest sympathy on the five-year anniversary of the Christchurch terror attacks. “March 15, 2019, was a day when families, communities and the country came together both in sorrow and solidarity,” Mr Luxon says.  “Today we pay our respects to the 51 shuhada ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024
    Speech for Financial Advice NZ Conference 5 March 2024  Acknowledgements and opening  Morena, Nga Mihi Nui.  Ko Andrew Bayly aho, Nor Whanganui aho. Thanks Nate for your Mihi Whakatau  Good morning. It’s a pleasure to formally open your conference this morning. What a lovely day in Wellington, What a great ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago
  • Early visit to Indonesia strengthens ties
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters held discussions in Jakarta today about the future of relations between New Zealand and South East Asia’s most populous country.   “We are in Jakarta so early in our new government’s term to reflect the huge importance we place on our relationship with Indonesia and South ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • China Foreign Minister to visit
    Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters has announced that the Foreign Minister of China, Wang Yi, will visit New Zealand next week.  “We look forward to re-engaging with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussing the full breadth of the bilateral relationship, which is one of New Zealand’s ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Minister opens new Auckland Rail Operations Centre
    Transport Minister Simeon Brown has today opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre, which will bring together KiwiRail, Auckland Transport, and Auckland One Rail to improve service reliability for Aucklanders. “The recent train disruptions in Auckland have highlighted how important it is KiwiRail and Auckland’s rail agencies work together to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Celebrating 10 years of Crankworx Rotorua
    The Government is proud to support the 10th edition of Crankworx Rotorua as the Crankworx World Tour returns to Rotorua from 16-24 March 2024, says Minister for Economic Development Melissa Lee.  “Over the past 10 years as Crankworx Rotorua has grown, so too have the economic and social benefits that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government delivering on tax commitments
    Legislation implementing coalition Government tax commitments and addressing long-standing tax anomalies will be progressed in Parliament next week, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says. The legislation is contained in an Amendment Paper to the Taxation (Annual Rates for 2023–24, Multinational Tax, and Remedial Matters) Bill issued today.  “The Amendment Paper represents ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Significant Natural Areas requirement to be suspended
    Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard has today announced that the Government has agreed to suspend the requirement for councils to comply with the Significant Natural Areas (SNA) provisions of the National Policy Statement for Indigenous Biodiversity for three years, while it replaces the Resource Management Act (RMA).“As it stands, SNAs ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government classifies drought conditions in Top of the South as medium-scale adverse event
    Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has classified the drought conditions in the Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts as a medium-scale adverse event, acknowledging the challenging conditions facing farmers and growers in the district. “Parts of Marlborough, Tasman, and Nelson districts are in the grip of an intense dry spell. I know ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Government partnership to tackle $332m facial eczema problem
    The Government is helping farmers eradicate the significant impact of facial eczema (FE) in pastoral animals, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay announced.  “A $20 million partnership jointly funded by Beef + Lamb NZ, the Government, and the primary sector will save farmers an estimated NZD$332 million per year, and aims to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • NZ, India chart path to enhanced relationship
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has completed a successful visit to India, saying it was an important step in taking the relationship between the two countries to the next level.   “We have laid a strong foundation for the Coalition Government’s priority of enhancing New Zealand-India relations to generate significant future benefit for both countries,” says Mr Peters, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    5 days ago
  • Ruapehu Alpine Lifts bailout the last, say Ministers
    Cabinet has agreed to provide $7 million to ensure the 2024 ski season can go ahead on the Whakapapa ski field in the central North Island but has told the operator Ruapehu Alpine Lifts it is the last financial support it will receive from taxpayers. Cabinet also agreed to provide ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Govt takes action to drive better cancer services
    Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says the launch of a new mobile breast screening unit in Counties Manukau reinforces the coalition Government’s commitment to drive better cancer services for all New Zealanders. Speaking at the launch of the new mobile clinic, Dr Reti says it’s a great example of taking ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
    Unlocking economic growth and land for housing are critical elements of the Government’s plan for our transport network, and planned upgrades to State Highway 29 (SH29) near Tauriko will deliver strongly on those priorities, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. “The SH29 upgrades near Tauriko will improve safety at the intersections ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    6 days ago
  • Work begins on SH29 upgrades near Tauriko
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