What does Luxon think about minimum wage increases and holidays?

Written By: - Date published: 7:58 am, April 13th, 2023 - 47 comments
Categories: Christopher Luxon, minimum wage, national, same old national, workers' rights - Tags:

Apologies for not posting lately.  It has been busy at work and I took the chance over easter to be with Whanau.

Which gave me the inspiration for this post.

Because it is really difficult to reconcile Christopher Luxon’s deep commitment to Jesus Christ with his willingness to trash the holiday even though it is based on Christ’s ascension from the dead.

He has a problem with public holidays and has been relentlessly negative about them, all of them.

To his credit he did not agree with Simon O’Connor that Matariki day should be given a more neutral name like Messier 45 after a French astronomer but says it should replace another public holiday like Labour Day.  O’Connor rather bizarrely thought that using a Te Reo name did not respect cultural diversity.

But Luxon did suggest that Labour day should be cancelled and then had to to walk back his suggestion.

His views about the importance of Easter to the Christian faith and the need to reflect on the importance of Jesus Christ appear to directly conflict with his view that we should review our trading laws.

He is also adverse to that other tenet of the New Testament, that we should look after the poor, including the working poor.

For the Bible did quote Jesus Christ as saying:

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

It seems that Luxon is troubled about the issue.

In 2021 he said he was a fan of minimum wage increases, but only if they could be afforded.  From Television New Zealand:

“I’m a big fan of increasing minimum wages, but when you do it when your economy is growing around 3 to 4 per cent mark so you can sustain in,” Luxon said.

It comes after he said in April that the increase in the minimum wage — from $18.90 to $20 — was hurting small businesses.

Luxon told Q+A small businesses were already also feeling the impact of the doubling of sick leave and a new public holiday.

“All that cost gets shunted across to small business to pay for. As a result, it’s a big disincentive for them to invest back in their business and actually create new jobs.”

He also complained about the effect that minimum wage increases were having on his morning coffee.

In February 2022 Luxon again said that he was a big fan of increasing the minimum wage but only when growth in the economy was growing at a rate of 3 to 4 percent and could not say if National would support an increase at the time.

From Henry Cooke at Stuff:

It’s really about the right time and the right place. Fundamentally, you’ve got to look at it and say, you know, the research would say ‘If the economy is growing around three to four per cent, and it’s broad-based and it’s healthy, that’s a good time for you to take minimum wage increases”.

The annual GDP growth rate at the time was 6%.

More recently he has insisted that tax cuts that would see the Prime Minister’s net income increase by $349 per week and the net income of someone on the minimum wage increase by $2.15 was somehow fair.

It is helpful to remember these things as the election campaign rolls out.  People need to reminded clearly which side National is on.  And it is not on the side of ordinary workers.

47 comments on “What does Luxon think about minimum wage increases and holidays? ”

  1. Sanctuary 1

    "…Because it is really difficult to reconcile Christopher Luxon’s deep commitment to Jesus Christ…"

    That is because his prosperity doctrine is a heresy. It amounts to a return to the pagan belief in the Gods disposing favour on those who can afford to sacrifice the most, on a closed feedback loop that if you can afford to buy the Gods favours, your wealth is evidence that it worked.

    Once you absorb Luxon and rest of his happy clappy mates are about as Christian as Diocletian what they say and do kinda makes a lot more sense.

    • SPC 1.1

      And as yet Luxon's not part of the 1% – which is why he wants the mortgage interest tax deduction restored (he does have 6 properties, so the amount would be substantial).

      The thing about Pentecostals, of the born again heresy, is they believe that their God is coming to kill off the majority of the planets population after their rapture up to heaven. Those who have that sort of religion are not known for their social gospel (or any concept of egalitarianism), but for coveting power and exercising it over others. Which sort of explains their adoration of Trump.

      Presumably National will leave the most obvious expressions of such extremism to the back pages of the ACT manifesto, which only see the light of day in coalition talks.

  2. Tiger Mountain 2

    Just as the USA was built on genocide and slave labour, this country was built on colonisation, land theft/dubious acquisition, and above all Cheap Wages.

    A low wage economy has officially been with us since National’s union busting 1991 Employment Contracts Act. Wages and productivity parted company soon after.
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/opinion-analysis/300339951/higher-productivity-doesnt-necessarily-mean-higher-wages

    What ever invisible man Mr Luxon may believe in, his abiding focus is keeping the profits up for the 1% with a few jolly up asides for the aspirational petit bourgeoisie that typically vote Natzo.

    Religious hypocrisy has few limits when it comes to politics. Christians in the USA support serial sleaze Trump because he delivered the anti woman policies and bent judges they craved. In NZ Brethren intervened in the “Don Brash” election with their flyers etc. Destiny and other monetising outfits try and steer their members in a certain political direction.

    People should be harder on Baldrick, the Natzos are bad enough but in concert with ACT (freeze minimum wage etc.) it will be 1991 repeated if they gain office.

  3. Visubversa 3

    That is because his religion is no different to most of the rest of them and is constructed on a solid foundation of the establishment and retention of male control, power and privilege.

  4. tsmithfield 4

    Because it is really difficult to reconcile Christopher Luxon’s deep commitment to Jesus Christ

    So, from what I have seen, Luxon previously got got attacked for being too hard-core Christian.. And, as per the article he said his faith was being misinterpreted. And now he is being attacked for not being Christian enough by pointing out apparent hypocrisy? But could it just be evidence that his faith was misinterpreted as he said?

    • Tiger Mountain 4.1

      Sanctuary identified the issue–Upper Room sect (referencing where the Last Supper was allegedly held) appears an elitist group where rich men may indeed go to heaven!

    • SPC 4.2

      “It is not in itself a political agenda. I believe no religion should dictate to the state, and no politician should use the political platform they have to force their beliefs on others

      Like others in their caucus a social conservative – the only sign of liberalism the allowance of gender ID on DL and passports (legislation 2009 and into effect 2012) and their bringing to the house legislation (2017) to effect similar change to birth certificates (completed in 2021 and supported by their entire caucus).

      Luxon has signalled he wants those under 25 to come under life management external to Work and Income while unemployed – with the capacity to cancel benefits. The selection criteria for that, given the potential to abuse power over youth (coercion to conform) has yet to be made known. Anyone who has come across religious providers of services knows what can happen.

      Luxon and National just want the youth to learn to be docile before authority (God and mammon) – thus there is also the 6 months hire and fire rules (employees who fear and obey the boss) they want to return to.

  5. Res Publica 5

    It's difficult to reconcile anything Christopher Luxon purportedly believes in since he appears to believe in both everything and nothing all at the same time.

    His "beliefs" seem to be nothing more than a collection of vague slogans that have been workshopped and focussed grouped to death. Which is terrifying coming from a man who is trying to paint himself as a future Prime Minister, but also very much on brand for National. An empty suit leading an empty party that's both morally and intellectually bankrupt.

    I guess from a political perspective it at least has the advantage of not scaring the electorate.

    If National doesn't ever stand for anything it doesn't have to do anything scary and difficult like coming up with policies or being accountable.

  6. tsmithfield 6

    I have to stand up for the team here lol.

    I guess we all have our personal beliefs. However, if we are representing a team with diverse personal beliefs, we shouldn't push our own personal beliefs at the expense of the team. Otherwise, a leader is implying that the rest of his team also holds those personal beliefs, which likely is not the case.

    So, a good leader should represent the collective views of his team. Not his own personal beliefs.

    So, perhaps this stance is just showing Luxon has the strength to step back from his own personal belief system, and hence answers some of the previous concerns about his own beliefs influencing the direction of the NP, and potentially a government?

    • SPC 6.1

      Is there any truth to the rumour that National is planning a response to New Zealand having its first "gender" equal cabinet, by holding a lottery to decide which of the caucus will stand up for women by changing gender so National can guarantee it would do the same?

      https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65247904

    • Res Publica 6.2

      Oh yes, we forget that true leadership involves not having any original ideas, parroting the party line (even when it's vapid nonsense) and bringing absolutely nothing of yourself to the role.

      Either the man is the leader of the party, or he's not. In which case you might as well send out Maureen "f!@*$ing useless" Pugh, Harete Hipango, or future Prime Minister Simeon Brown.

      At least they articulate some kind of consistent policy. Bullshit policy to be sure, but policy nonetheless.

      • tsmithfield 6.2.1

        Either the man is the leader of the party, or he's not.

        That depends on leadership style, which is a whole area of study in itself.

        My impression is that he is more of a delegator than a charasmatic style leader, which is probably why we here more from various National MPs than Luxon himself.

        And that is probably a good thing in a strong team.

        • Res Publica 6.2.1.1

          I agree with you there tmsithfield: Delegation is absolutely a legitimate (and often empowering) leadership style. And works real well when you're more of a prima inter pares like a party leader.

          That said, we're talking about someone who wants to be the next Prime Minister. Part of the job is telling people what you actually believe and articulating an actual theory of change.

          All Luxon has delivered thus far is vague mumblefuckery. The public deserves better than that.

          It used to be National stood for something: A fair crack for everyone. A state that was limited in scope but made sure to look after those less fortunate. A compassionate, legitimate conservatism that accepted the fundamental critique of society offered by the labour movement, tried to do something about it, and offered something other than lukewarm platitudes about "opportunity".

        • Res Publica 6.2.1.2

          And that is probably a good thing in a strong team.

          I would characterise the current National caucus as a lot of things, but strong ain't one of them.

          It was only a few months ago that Luxon had to gently shove his agriculture spokesperson out the door because she straight up abused her power as an MP to influence the criminal prosecution of her son.

          • tsmithfield 6.2.1.2.1

            I would characterise the current National caucus as a lot of things, but strong ain't one of them.

            I guess that is an aspect we would be expected to disagree on.

            Part of the job is telling people what you actually believe

            I disagree with that statement. I think the job is telling people the agreed collective position of the team on various issues. Personal beliefs shouldn't have any effect on that.

            • Res Publica 6.2.1.2.1.1

              I disagree with that statement. I think the job is telling people the agreed collective position of the team on various issues. Personal beliefs shouldn't have any effect on that.

              I respect your disagreement and understand your argument.

              Mine is less about Luxon's personal beliefs and if they influence his political positioning (although I do have doubts about the ability of a multimillionaire airline executive to empathise with the day-to-day struggles us mere mortals have to cope with) but more with his (and National's) inability to clearly articulate a position on anything.

              But at the end of the day he's the party leader and public face of whatever internal politicking goes on behind the scenes. And until he no doubt is spilled in a Barbara Kuriger/Simeon Brown led coup after losing the next election by a whisker, his statements are National's statements.

              • tsmithfield

                but more with his (and National's) inability to clearly articulate a position on anything.

                To be fair, I think National have been keeping their powder dry with the election coming up due to the fear of any good ideas being gazumpted.

                So, you probably will here more going forward. Not that I expect you will like much of it. lol.

    • Tony Veitch 6.3

      So, a good leader should represent the collective views of his team. Not his own personal beliefs.

      But Luxon is not alone in his views within the Natz caucus. There's quite a collection of, shall we say, god-botherers, and growing, if that fellow Fleming gets elected.

      Whether they have the numbers to out vote the so-called 'liberal' wing of the Natz remains to be seen.

      • tsmithfield 6.3.1

        There's quite a collection of, shall we say, god-botherers, and growing,

        If that really were an issue, then there wouldn't be any talk along the lines of cancelling Christian holidays would there, as pointed out in Micky's article.

        I am interested in why people with Christian views should bother you? Did you also have similar concerns when Choudary was in parliament for instance? As he was a Muslim, so I guess a God botherer who bats for the other team?

        • Sanctuary 6.3.1.1

          "…I am interested in why people with Christian views should bother you..?"

          Because given half a chance they turn private worship into matters of public morality and thence into a theological position that acts as the primary jump-off for public policy formation in a secular state.

          IMHO how you worship in private is your business, but your Church should pay tax for everything that doesn't involves alms for the poor, priest should be subject to conscription and pastors ought to keep their opinions strictly confined to their pulpits.

          If you are that mad keen on the God botherer stuff then put your money where your mouth is and let's have a Kirchensteuer for NZ.

          • tsmithfield 6.3.1.1.1

            Because given half a chance they turn private worship into matters of public morality and thence into a theological position that acts as the primary jump-off for public policy formation in a secular state.

            That is a fairly broad generalisation. I think you would find that Christianity is a much broader church than even Labour or National, if you pardon the pun. So, those comments may apply to quite a small segment of that group.

            I am not saying this applies to you, but the reason for including Choudary in my previous post, is that I find it interesting that people who seem to be triggered by Christianity, often seem very accepting of other religions that often have much more extreme views with respect to women and gay rights etc.

            • SPC 6.3.1.1.1.1

              Choudhary

              abstained on legislation to allow legal prostitution.

              The Prostitution Reform Bill, which decriminalised sex work in New Zealand, passed on 25 June 2003 by just one vote – the abstention of Labour MP Ashraf Choudhary allowed the bill to become law

              https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/29381/passing-of-the-prostitution-reform-bill

              after initially abstaining he voted in favour of civil unions.

              https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0412/S00036/ashraf-choudhary-to-support-civil-union-bill.htm

              I remember making some effort to convince the MP to take a common cause approach. I did not bother with the Christian ones.

              • tsmithfield

                I believe in someone's beliefs are so staunch that they can't abide by joint cabinet responsibility, then they shouldn't be in parliament.

                But, I guess conscious bills are another issue. But, in those situations, the person with an objecting conscious vote will usually be in a minority. And if not, then the wisdom of the bill in the first place is probably dodgy.

            • Tony Veitch 6.3.1.1.1.2

              As Sanctuary said, a person's religion is no business of mine, so long as they keep it private.

              But I have a real fear of any fundamentalism, be it Muslim, Jewish, Christianity etc. Then religion flows over into policy, which is more often than not imposed on the general public.

              Roe vs Wade, for example.

              • tsmithfield

                Sure. But, again, that is more of a problem in the US where they have a very strong evangalical movement. Not so much here. There is very little chance that people with such views would be able to greatly impact on policy.

                On the other hand, parliament is supposed to be representitive of everyone, right? That would include fundamentalists as well, as part of our society. There are plenty of things I am not happy about as well, so far as influence goes. But, that is part and parcel of living in a democracy.

  7. Tony Veitch 7

    It's been said much better by Sanctuary, SPC, Tiger Mountain et al, but I'll just add my tad:

    Never ever trust a religious fundamentalist!

    • tsmithfield 7.1

      But perhaps he isn't a fundamentalist as you suggest.

      Otherwise, he likely wouldn't be talking about cancelling Easter holidays etc, as pointed out in the article. From my experience, fundamentalists tend to be fairly hard-core and uncompromising.

      So, I don't think you can have it both ways.

  8. tsmithfield 8

    It seems I am arguing against two opposing positions here, that both can't be true at the same time.

    Either Luxon is a hypocritical flake, who gives lip-service to Christian beliefs, as Micky seems to be arguing in his post.e.g.

    Because it is really difficult to reconcile Christopher Luxon’s deep commitment to Jesus Christ with his willingness to trash the holiday even though it is based on Christ’s ascension from the dead.

    Or he is a hard-core fundamentalist, who is likely to influence his party or a future government into all sorts of strongly conservative directions that are dangerous, as some seem to be suggesting above.

    • SPC 8.1

      It's simple, prosperity religion is about the wealthy lining their pockets and posing as the favourites of God. It's the last phase of each and every empire. And Luxon’s perspective is formed and informed by American values.

      • tsmithfield 8.1.1

        I haven't really looked into his religious beliefs at all, as it doesn't seem at all relevant to me. Anymore than Bill English as a Catholic, or Choudary as a Muslim when he was in parliament for that matter.

        But, I would be interested to know about the prosperity doctrine beliefs he apparently has. I have seen a few comments about that, but no links yet?

        • SPC 8.1.1.1

          It's bog standard, garden variety American fertilizer that began in the pentecostal sphere of their nativist exceptionalism (but now influences the Hispanic and black faith community, where pastors present bling as a brand endorsement – pointy fish adjectives added in for free).

          https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-you-should-know-about-the-prosperity-gospel/

          PS I got a million dollar bill in the mail this Easter – some pentecostal group had this writing on the back about the coronation of Charles, in the USA they write about God on their currency).

          • tsmithfield 8.1.1.1.1

            Yes, that prosperity doctrine stuff is fairly old news. It has been around for years.

            From what I saw, it tended to benefit the leaders of said groups more than the members, who tended to be the sources of said leader's wealth.

            You haven't given me a link to show Luxon prescribes to such views though.

    • AB 8.2

      It seems I am arguing against two opposing positions here, that both can't be true at the same time. Either Luxon is a hypocritical flake, who gives lip-service to Christian beliefs …. [o]r he is a hard-core fundamentalist, who is likely to influence his party…

      No – I don't think there's a contradiction. Luxon is a heretic, who subscribes to a willful and self-interested misinterpretation of the words of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Gospels. This heresy is potentially very dangerous for the rest of us. Therefore Luxon is both not a Christian (a heretic), and has dangerous fundamentalist ideas. (Note: I'm repeating Sanctuary at 1 and SPC at 8.1)

      The origins of this heresy have been mentioned by SPC at 8.1.1.1. I tend to agree that being American in origin, this heresy and all others like it, try to reconcile two mutually hostile facts – that the country was originally settled by religious refugees intent on creating God's kingdom on earth, but who went about it by a brutal exercise in what Marxists would call "primitive accumulation", dispossessing native people and enslaving black Africans. Put crudely, it is a Christianity that is optimised to accommodate capitalism.

      • tsmithfield 8.2.1

        Luxon is a heretic, who subscribes to a willful and self-interested misinterpretation of the words of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Gospels.

        This sort of theme has been repeated a number of times on this thread. But, quite frankly, there has been bugger all evidence put forward to justify it. Again, you have just made a bald assertion, without anything to back it up.

        • roblogic 8.2.1.1

          To be a proper heretic, Luxon would have to be caught expounding theology at odds with the great creeds of the church, e.g. the Apostles Creed

          But Luxon doesn’t engage his faith much other than as a vehicle for his platitudes and conservative instincts. Conservatism in itself is not contradictory to Christian beliefs. But Capitalism certainly is.

          One could argue that Luxon is a tool of Capital (aka Mammon); which isn’t a mere heresy, it’s a grotesque cultural phenomenon, an egregore arising from human greed, that camouflages its emnity towards God and all humanity, and destroys the Earth

          Unbridled capitalism is the ‘dung of the devil’, says Pope Francis

  9. Corey 9

    I'm in two minds over Easter, on one hand I love the days where everything is shut down and we just reenergize and hang out with loved ones or go on a holiday/road trip.

    On the other hand Easter rules are weird and vary from street in some places, I'd prefer we had more clarity and it remain a nationwide holiday.

    As for minimum wage, we know what the Tory's think, high immigration rates so wages stay down and rents go up due to increased pressure on housing stock.

    I love increases to minimum wage, if wages kept up with my grandparents generation, many of my generation would be able to afford to raise families on single incomes like previous generations, but unfortunately my gen just can't…

    My biggest concern though with min wage increases is by not changing tax thresholds for lower and middle income earners we have put some low paid workers in higher tax brackets, which is not fair …. It's just taxing the poor more and thats just not very Labour.

    Allllllsoooo …. We were promised the removal of secondary taxes six years ago but everyone I know working two jobs is still paying them, c'mon labour…. Abolish secondary taxes.

    We're the left we should back workers and the strivers and guarantee a high standard of living for those who can't.

  10. woodart 10

    easy for luxon ,or any christian to have a bob each way. when old white men invented christianity, and wrote the book of their rules, they deliberatley left loopholes and inconsistencies in. a good example are the right-to-lifers in the u.s. ardently anti-abortion, but mostly in favour of capital punishment, and the highest number of handgun owners. they hold up opposing parts of the bible as proof of their gods mercy-vengance. check out samuel L jackson, pulp fiction.

  11. Luxon's religious noises are politically calculated, nothing to do with the Bible or teachings of Jesus at all. The OT prophets are very keen on respecting holy days, and the NT writers exhort Christians to treat workers fairly. Actually quite revolutionary at the time, given the oppressive cultural context of the Roman empire, where life was cheap.

  12. Luxon's actual value system is shown by his actions and unguarded statements. He is a creature of corporate management who thinks NZ is like a business.

    This means austerity: cuts to public services, externalising costs, attacking wages and conditions, obsession over accounting rather than human wellbeing, huge expenditure on PR fluff and marketing.

    And that's just the surface stuff. Corporate values are machiavellian. These guys all read "The Art of War" and think criminals like Elon Musk are heroes. Espionage, disinformation and dirty tricks is how global capitalism thrives.

  13. Mike the Lefty 13

    National have always loathed Labour Day holiday because it is a celebration of how when workers stick together they can win. Up til now they have been too scared to dump it but that might change as the ACT rabids put on the pressure.

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    TL;DR: The podcast above features co-hosts and , along with regular guests Robert Patman on Gaza and AUKUS II, and on climate change.The six things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • The ‘Humpty Dumpty’ end result of dismantling our environmental protections
    Policymakers rarely wish to make plain or visible their desire to dismantle environmental policy, least of all to the young. Photo: Lynn GrievesonTL;DR: Here’s the top five news items of note in climate news for Aotearoa-NZ this week, and a discussion above between Bernard Hickey and The Kākā’s climate correspondent ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    22 hours ago
  • Nicola's Salad Days.
    I like to keep an eye on what’s happening in places like the UK, the US, and over the ditch with our good mates the Aussies. Let’s call them AUKUS, for want of a better collective term. More on that in a bit.It used to be, not long ago, that ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    23 hours ago
  • Study sees climate change baking in 19% lower global income by 2050
    TL;DR: The global economy will be one fifth smaller than it would have otherwise been in 2050 as a result of climate damage, according to a new study by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and published in the journal Nature. (See more detail and analysis below, and ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    23 hours ago
  • Weekly Roundup 19-April-2024
    It’s Friday again. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week on Greater Auckland On Tuesday Matt covered at the government looking into a long tunnel for Wellington. On Wednesday we ran a post from Oscar Simms on some lessons from Texas. AT’s ...
    1 day ago
  • Jack Vowles: Stop the panic – we’ve been here before
    New Zealand is said to be suffering from ‘serious populist discontent’. An IPSOS MORI survey has reported that we have an increasing preference for strong leaders, think that the economy is rigged toward the rich and powerful, and political elites are ignoring ‘hard-working people’.  The data is from February this ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    1 day ago
  • Clearing up confusion (or trying to)
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters is understood to be planning a major speech within the next fortnight to clear up the confusion over whether or not New Zealand might join the AUKUS submarine project. So far, there have been conflicting signals from the Government. RNZ reported the Prime Minister yesterday in ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    1 day ago
  • How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log iPhone Without Computer
    How to Retrieve Deleted Call Log on iPhone Without a Computer: A StepbyStep Guide Losing your iPhone call history can be frustrating, especially when you need to find a specific number or recall an important conversation. But before you panic, know that there are ways to retrieve deleted call logs on your iPhone, even without a computer. This guide will explore various methods, ranging from simple checks to utilizing iCloud backups and thirdparty applications. So, lets dive in and recover those lost calls! 1. Check Recently Deleted Folder: Apple understands that accidental deletions happen. Thats why they introduced the Recently Deleted folder for various apps, including the Phone app. This folder acts as a safety net, storing deleted call logs for up to 30 days before permanently erasing them. Heres how to check it: Open the Phone app on your iPhone. Tap on the Recents tab at the bottom. Scroll to the top and tap on Edit. Select Show Recently Deleted. Browse the list to find the call logs you want to recover. Tap on the desired call log and choose Recover to restore it to your call history. 2. Restore from iCloud Backup: If you regularly back up your iPhone to iCloud, you might be able to retrieve your deleted call log from a previous backup. However, keep in mind that this process will restore your entire phone to the state it was in at the time of the backup, potentially erasing any data added since then. Heres how to restore from an iCloud backup: Go to Settings > General > Reset. Choose Erase All Content and Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions. Your iPhone will restart and show the initial setup screen. Choose Restore from iCloud Backup during the setup process. Select the relevant backup that contains your deleted call log. Wait for the restoration process to complete. 3. Explore ThirdParty Apps (with Caution): ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Factory Reset iPhone without Computer: A Comprehensive Guide to Restoring your Device
    Life throws curveballs, and sometimes, those curveballs necessitate wiping your iPhone clean and starting anew. Whether you’re facing persistent software glitches, preparing to sell your device, or simply wanting a fresh start, knowing how to factory reset iPhone without a computer is a valuable skill. While using a computer with ...
    1 day ago
  • How to Call Someone on a Computer: A Guide to Voice and Video Communication in the Digital Age
    Gone are the days when communication was limited to landline phones and physical proximity. Today, computers have become powerful tools for connecting with people across the globe through voice and video calls. But with a plethora of applications and methods available, how to call someone on a computer might seem ...
    2 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #16 2024
    Open access notables Glacial isostatic adjustment reduces past and future Arctic subsea permafrost, Creel et al., Nature Communications: Sea-level rise submerges terrestrial permafrost in the Arctic, turning it into subsea permafrost. Subsea permafrost underlies ~ 1.8 million km2 of Arctic continental shelf, with thicknesses in places exceeding 700 m. Sea-level variations over glacial-interglacial cycles control ...
    2 days ago
  • Where on a Computer is the Operating System Generally Stored? Delving into the Digital Home of your ...
    The operating system (OS) is the heart and soul of a computer, orchestrating every action and interaction between hardware and software. But have you ever wondered where on a computer is the operating system generally stored? The answer lies in the intricate dance between hardware and software components, particularly within ...
    2 days ago
  • How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Understanding Power Consumption and Efficiency
    Laptops have become essential tools for work, entertainment, and communication, offering portability and functionality. However, with rising energy costs and growing environmental concerns, understanding a laptop’s power consumption is more important than ever. So, how many watts does a laptop use? The answer, unfortunately, isn’t straightforward. It depends on several ...
    2 days ago
  • How to Screen Record on a Dell Laptop A Guide to Capturing Your Screen with Ease
    Screen recording has become an essential tool for various purposes, such as creating tutorials, capturing gameplay footage, recording online meetings, or sharing information with others. Fortunately, Dell laptops offer several built-in and external options for screen recording, catering to different needs and preferences. This guide will explore various methods on ...
    2 days ago
  • How Much Does it Cost to Fix a Laptop Screen? Navigating Repair Options and Costs
    A cracked or damaged laptop screen can be a frustrating experience, impacting productivity and enjoyment. Fortunately, laptop screen repair is a common service offered by various repair shops and technicians. However, the cost of fixing a laptop screen can vary significantly depending on several factors. This article delves into the ...
    2 days ago
  • How Long Do Gaming Laptops Last? Demystifying Lifespan and Maximizing Longevity
    Gaming laptops represent a significant investment for passionate gamers, offering portability and powerful performance for immersive gaming experiences. However, a common concern among potential buyers is their lifespan. Unlike desktop PCs, which allow for easier component upgrades, gaming laptops have inherent limitations due to their compact and integrated design. This ...
    2 days ago
  • Climate Change: Turning the tide
    The annual inventory report of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions has been released, showing that gross emissions have dropped for the third year in a row, to 78.4 million tons: All-told gross emissions have decreased by over 6 million tons since the Zero Carbon Act was passed in 2019. ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago
  • How to Unlock Your Computer A Comprehensive Guide to Regaining Access
    Experiencing a locked computer can be frustrating, especially when you need access to your files and applications urgently. The methods to unlock your computer will vary depending on the specific situation and the type of lock you encounter. This guide will explore various scenarios and provide step-by-step instructions on how ...
    2 days ago
  • Faxing from Your Computer A Modern Guide to Sending Documents Digitally
    While the world has largely transitioned to digital communication, faxing still holds relevance in certain industries and situations. Fortunately, gone are the days of bulky fax machines and dedicated phone lines. Today, you can easily send and receive faxes directly from your computer, offering a convenient and efficient way to ...
    2 days ago
  • Protecting Your Home Computer A Guide to Cyber Awareness
    In our increasingly digital world, home computers have become essential tools for work, communication, entertainment, and more. However, this increased reliance on technology also exposes us to various cyber threats. Understanding these threats and taking proactive steps to protect your home computer is crucial for safeguarding your personal information, finances, ...
    2 days ago
  • Server-Based Computing Powering the Modern Digital Landscape
    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    2 days ago
  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago
  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago
  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    2 days ago
  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    2 days ago
  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago
  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    2 days ago
  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    2 days ago
  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    2 days ago
  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago
  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago
  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago
  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    3 days ago
  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    4 days ago
  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    4 days ago
  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago
  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago
  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    4 days ago

  • $41m to support clean energy in South East Asia
    New Zealand is demonstrating its commitment to reducing global greenhouse emissions, and supporting clean energy transition in South East Asia, through a contribution of NZ$41 million (US$25 million) in climate finance to the Asian Development Bank (ADB)-led Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM). Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    16 hours ago
  • Minister releases Fast-track stakeholder list
    The Government is today releasing a list of organisations who received letters about the Fast-track applications process, says RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop. “Recently Ministers and agencies have received a series of OIA requests for a list of organisations to whom I wrote with information on applying to have a ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago
  • Judicial appointments announced
    Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister David Jonathan Boldt as a Judge of the High Court, and the Honourable Justice Matthew Palmer as a Judge of the Court of Appeal. Justice Boldt graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1990, and also holds ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago
  • Education Minister heads to major teaching summit in Singapore
    Education Minister Erica Stanford will lead the New Zealand delegation at the 2024 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP) held in Singapore. The delegation includes representatives from the Post Primary Teachers’ Association (PPTA) Te Wehengarua and the New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) Te Riu Roa.  The summit is co-hosted ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Value of stopbank project proven during cyclone
    A stopbank upgrade project in Tairawhiti partly funded by the Government has increased flood resilience for around 7000ha of residential and horticultural land so far, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. Mr Jones today attended a dawn service in Gisborne to mark the end of the first stage of the ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Anzac commemorations, Türkiye relationship focus of visit
    Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters will represent the Government at Anzac Day commemorations on the Gallipoli Peninsula next week and engage with senior representatives of the Turkish government in Istanbul.    “The Gallipoli campaign is a defining event in our history. It will be a privilege to share the occasion ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    20 hours ago
  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    23 hours ago
  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago
  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago
  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
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