39 Comments
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Keith Simes's avatar

The recycled rejects reappearing on Coalition lists is our own local version of an outbreak of cyclosporiasis - names that really give me the screaming shitz

David Tippett's avatar

Rather than using the divisive name 'Cook' the names should be 'Kupe' the earliest to sail to Aotearoa and 'Tupaia' who accompanied Cook and assisted his navigation and relationship with indigenous nga tangata.

Kim Shaw-Williams's avatar

That' exactly what I was thinking, Dave, good on ya.

Gloria Sharp's avatar

Pleased you brought this subject to the fore Nick. I was inquisitive to know where Peter’s got the authority from to name the ships? Presumably public consultation can be undertaken with a new Labour / Green Government and they can then receive their names. The shipbuilders should be prepared for this. Oh what I wouldn’t do to see Peters and his fascist cohorts dumped, full stop.

Mac Stevenson's avatar

Poster on X stating Winston can’t use those names as they are already registered to vessels in NZ. Would be amusingly ironic if true just like the NZ First ad with remember spelt wrongly. The pompous puffball will no doubt blame the environment protectors.

Maggie Hillock's avatar

Love "pompous puffball".

Darien Fenton's avatar

I don't think Rino is standing for a seat. Just joined NZ First, but I felt pretty betrayed when I read it, especially because he used to have his office in with the Meat Workers Union, who backed him. And old Dover Samuels was there too. Another Shane bro. I'm interested in how they keep insisting NZ First is a nationalist party so I went looking for other nationalist parties/countries. Hitler's Germany, Viktor Orban's Hungary, Russia, North Korea and China of course. And we have a Foreign Minister who is anti-globalist trotting around the world. There is more telling off to come today from Winston, so be prepared. And speaking of new candidates, I just watched Paul Henry on Q & A. He is hopeless.. Doesn't have a frigging clue. Jack nailed him quite well.

Darien Fenton's avatar

I just saw Dover's comments on RNZ too. He said Labour is fossilised. The last thing I remember about him was him pissing in the corner of a Hotel corridor because he couldn't find his way.

Nick Rockel's avatar

Yes, I had considered mentioning that episode with Dover but thought better of it. Will have to watch Q&A, watched the football.

Darien Fenton's avatar

It was a bit unkind. He is 87. Talking about fossils !

Gaylene Middleton's avatar

I love your alternative suggestions- 'Jools Topp' and 'Sam Neil' would bring a smile to my face. 'Kupe' along with 'Tupaia' is a genius suggestion. There is an excellent article this morning from Iain Parker on Substack. It is heart breaking to have your writing, Gerard Otto, Sergent M Major and analysis from Ganesh Ahirao, Bernard Hickey and so many others and it doesn't penetrate the thinking of National, Act and NZ First.

Fran Hazid's avatar

Thanks for the link, Gaylene. Really good post, asking the right questions.

Graeme Brown's avatar

Very sad that bigotry has stalled the "Ara" tradition.

My son suggests Araniki and Arawini.

Cindy's avatar

👍👏 I see what he did there 🥰 - would also enjoy stomping around on top of "niki" or "wini" during a sailing !

John Farrell's avatar

Ship names are ephemeral things...take the escort carrier my father served on during WW2 - started life as MV TELEMACHUS, was converted to a carrier in 1942 and named HMS ACTIVITY, and after the war became M.V. BRECONSHIRE. Names can change...

Mike's avatar

At least we have names now. How bout some ferries please…

Christine van Beurden's avatar

Ha! You can laugh but we're in the epicentre of the cyclosporia outbreak in the Midwest. It's stinking hot - 34 degrees today and we can't eat salads, vegetables have to be cooked to destroy the parasite or, don't eat vegetables. As you say, it's no longer classed as a notifiable disease under the Trump regime so it makes tracing the source of the infestation difficult. Who'd have thunk?

Nick Rockel's avatar

My commiserations, are people there angry that the government has neglected it’s duty?

Christine van Beurden's avatar

You're joking - I completely understand how Trump and his merry band get away with everything because no one is the slightest bit interested in politics. I'm better informed than they are! I am talking about the mid-west which is Republican. Just visited friends in Boston and they're a completely different breed.

Shell's avatar

Winston is a twat, end of. The big story of the week is decidedly not names for ferries that will be delivered three years late and costing extra millions.

Judith Paulin's avatar

Also, many thanks for the ability to listen to your column, as I am gradually losing my sight and listening is very much easier than reading for me!

Dave's avatar

So names and complaints about his forecast reaction to the names......any actual ferries yet?

Diana Coleman's avatar

Too much to ask, I think 2028 is the delivery date.

Dave's avatar

Seriously....they have named the ferries two years before delivery date? Perhaps he thinks announcing the names will make us all think the ferries are here!

Diana Coleman's avatar

Just making a point I think.

Fran Hazid's avatar

Thanks Nick, on target, as always. Roll on the election and let's Ditch the pricks in 26!

Judith Paulin's avatar

Nick thinks as always for your comments today. I agree with everything you had to say and I love your suggestions for suitable ferry names.!

kathleen Murdoch's avatar

It would be gratifying if the voting public could see Winston's cabal for what they are, a bunch of castoffs grifting for some more easy money.

What has NZFirst ever done for the New Zealand public? ,

Gold card???? don't make me laugh I've got one ,it gets me intro to the local Winz office and that's the full extent of its value.

And now we still have the ominous threat of the mining, tobacco, alcohol, betting lobbies with their fatboys pushing their respective barrows.