NZCPR Muriel Newman, "Opening the Books". Have a read.

I am tired of this left - right thing we seem to think politics is all about. Could we perhaps focus on which party will steward our country in a competent and fiscally efficient manner for all? We do not have to like them as people either.

Why are we fixated on personalities in NZ politics? Let us go with the best people to look after all New Zealander's interests. Vote for the party which will govern prudently and wisely rather than the leader who is most popular. Does not matter one jot.

I am over people saying National/Act are beneficiary bashers. Disability benefits will not be effected but rather the long term unemployed, generational in fact. Why would we want people not to work for a living? We all must contribute.

What is with all the little parties? Do people not know they will split voting so we may end up with no clear winner. Most of them are totally pointless. What a nonsense.

I am going to trace my ancestry so that I can get funding for past wrongs. Not sure where to start as all my ancestors were colonized by others several times over. However, if I can get some money, I will persevere. I will make a claim sometime.

Let us look at this vaping debacle. Nicotine is no worse than caffeine. Under 18 years old cannot access vape products unless their family is supplying or older people. I cannot buy 4% nicotine vape pods as a result of this nonsense. Should we perhaps (1)

2) look at the harm alcohol and sugar are doing to our society rather than the dreaded vape? Alcohol and illicit drugs feature in all statistics from family harm through to issues at A&E departments. What about Fetal Alcohol issues? Ridiculous really.

I wonder whether people are really struggling financially at all. All sorts of fruit rotting on the ground of rented homes; good bicycles disgarded on walkways plus clothing etc. Are these signs of poverty?

I wonder about the number of undiagnozed young people with fetal alcohol syndrome. This would account for a lot of anti social behaviour plus problems ongoing. I see so many on my rides on cycle ways in Whangarei. Worrying.

So over this school lunch twaddle. Schools get fruit and milk. Low decile schools anyway. Our country cannot afford to feed children at school. Packing a school lunch is the parent's job, end of. (1)

(2) We grew up with Marmite sandwiches and a bit of fruit. My parents were poor. Not a problem with that at all. Expectations is the problem here I think. We had no choice re our food, it was what was offered or we went hungry.

(3) My parents had a huge garden; Mum bought the cheapest meat cuts; they walked to the beach to fish; Mum made jams and preserved fruit from our trees; Mum made fried bread sometimes which we took to school if any was left over. Parents need to prioritize.

It amazes me that New Zealanders think this new government should have fixed all the ills of our country in a few short months. So naive and gob smacking stupid. It will take years if we do not get Labour/Greens in again, that is. Get real!

When will we be getting Chinese; Samoan; Tongan; South African wards on councils in New Zealand? Seems fair that all ethnicities have the same access to political voice. Asking for a friend.

I am tired of all this poverty talk and poverty being blamed for poor health statistics. There was a time when we all had houses without insulation and sufficient heating. I grew up with an open fire only. There was no mold; we had homegrown fruit and veges.

My mother cooked and cleaned and worked part time. We were poor on today's standards but we all survived and were healthy. Gosh, I am poor on today's criteria as I am a pensioner. I am so not complaining. My life is awesome. The narrative is wrong.

If Maori want a separate parliament; health system; judicial system etc., perhaps they should have it. They pay for it by their tax dollar and from previous treaty claims investment. Only those on the Maori electoral roll can access. (1)

(2) Could that work and make all the animosity go away? I am tired and saddened by the disharmony in our society. We were not like this once. Can we move on if Maori can have what they want, paid for by them????

Why do we have so many people not working and receiving benefits? Today I saw 5 cars pull up to a Kainga Ora home to visit. I think there were about 10 people in total. This was 2.30 pm, so presumably they do not work.I do not understand.