NB: a Newshub-Reid poll in November 2022 shows 84.5% support for a tax-free threshold. My suggested starting bracket for one: $26k. #nzpol

@NZStuff About the only people who populate those areas are the army on hunting expeditions, reclusive farmers and the odd small "outback" family such as that of Tom Phillips and the Marokopa kids.

@NZStuff tips (thread above).

He appeared in a takeaway store to pick up his meal after being up that way. At least, he looked like an army recruit (manner, build, vibe). https://t.co/8E2sks7eiO

Stuff article asks for tips "do you know more?" they say. Yes as a matter of fact I know that Ruatiti is less than an hour from Waiouru which is a military army base, and that the army are known to train in those remote areas. Met one likely plainclothes operative yesterday ...

Luxon expects the poor to negotiate rent, which is as about as realistic as expecting poor Oliver Twist to renegotiate another portion of gruel with the workhouse master and Mr Bumble. The situation rarely ends well for renters.

Many landlords who poor renters end up renting from, are desperate and at the low end of the market themselves. Those landlords in the past resented being asked to reduce rates by tenants. "Landlords" of the poor include benefit Mum's letting spare rooms, and drug slum lords.

If renters cannot afford rent, they are disinclined to "renegotiate" the price with landlords because they know landlords won't like that. Instead, poor renters tend to just move out and look for cheaper advertised rates. Most renters and landlords try to avoid confrontation.

https://t.co/33ewMmJSYr "If you're ... renting a house, I'd just say to you, go back to your landlord, renegotiate your rates" ~ PM Luxon. Remark risks annoying both renters and landlords. He misunderstands: renters and landlords in this state don't like having to haggle.

@MarkMitchellMP It's ironic that somebody from a former or current high profile public service role was or is still trying to charge "Ms Z" with "harmful communications" after she attempted to report being harassed and victimised. Ironic. Considering the damage staff do by rudely hanging up.

@MarkMitchellMP Other problem lines include, in the past, the NZ Human Rights Commission (paradoxically) and even the ombud's office.

@MarkMitchellMP I'm sorry that the former administration left such a shambles for your new appointed heads to clear up. Indications are the problems persist across Crown Law offices (Solicitor General), IGD (Inspector General of Defence) and some IPCA public point of contact lines, to this day.

@MarkMitchellMP Rude staff operating official lines have given, and continue to give, government public services a bad name. The issue affects many govt offices, and depts. Plainly a contributing weak service issue across many official public contact points that "Ms Z" attempted to reach.

@MarkMitchellMP Speaking about government phone numbers listed for the public to call. Some govt staff operating these official public point of "contact" channels, that the public are supposed to be able to use to communicate with government departments and officials, are being very unhelpful.

@MarkMitchellMP Apparently the issue is not limited to "Ms Z's" experience. Somebody, somewhere, at some point in the past (under Hipkins as a minister or perhaps even earlier) has instructed executive offices staff who take incoming calls to hang up on callers. Hanging up is extremely rude.

Hi Mark @MarkMitchellMP, please read notes above. Tragically, weak service still an issue in some departments including even the IPCA itself. On the IPCA line, I kid you not, they told a genuine caller that answering queries is not a service they provide and then hung up.

Mark, please tell staff on office contact lines to stop being rude. Tell them to stop hanging up on people who call. They were hired to answer phones respectfully. If staff can't cope with talking to callers, then please appoint some with better communications skills who can.

The rudeness and incompetence of many staff fronting official govt contact lines and mail addresses across a number of departments, in recent years and since at least 2018, is an endemic problem. Mark Mitchel and the rest of the caucus must send a strong message to do better.

... re "Ms Z". She tried to contact government offices and departments through legitimate channels to discuss valid concerns. Corrupt bodies didn't want to hear so would've rudely hung up and put her mail in the trash. She would have retried ... 300x. https://t.co/PK2sZ76ytO

Summertime here! Only one month until a new year begins. Am going to try and stay away from logging in to this crazy app. (Only opened an account on this platform after a source pestered me to). Early Merry Christmas wishes of peace and prosperity to all and any who read this.

10. Goodnight.