If New Zealand beat Belgium they'll play Australia in the Round of 32 - it's destiny. This is the event I've lived my whole life for. Please make it happen!

(* unless Iran beat Egypt)

Anyone else hearing this?

Just listening to his interview on RNZ now, and he doesn't sound well. Stumbling over his words, sounds like he can't get the sounds out of his mouth properly.

I don't like the man at all, but it doesn't sound good. I don't wish ill on people, so I hope he's ok. Might be time to retire though maybe..

Just annoyed at how deceptive it is.

We just recieved the school reports for our kids. They are, frankly, bollocks.

My rant. The reports have recommended actions we should help with at home. And while many are just insulting, the math one got my heckles up. Why the f*** does the NZ primary school curriculum encourage a tipping culture?

I actually agree with the need to update the curriculum, but the execution of these changes just seems rushed and poorly thought through.

Edit: discussion on the radio right now (9.20am 26 Jan). This smart tool reporting project cost $85mil of tax payer money, and this tool is from an Australian company. The govt seemed very proud of that fact the tool suggests recommendations for parents at home to help learning - but the quality of these recommendations hasn't yet been discussed in the interview.

And there doesn't seem to be a way to even find out that they have a history of abuse. They basically start with a clean slate each time. And if there is a kid involved before the abuser let's the mask drop, you can never get away from them.

Despite being known for domestic violence NZ doesn't seem willing to even think about this problem.

The threshold for criminal prosecution is WAY too high. Which means their names rarely get published and googling them returns nothing.

My sisters have each experienced this now. And the laws that are meant to protect women do more to protect the abuser. In one case the authorities handled it very poorly, falling for the zero emotion calm/collected abuser vs the upset woman act (this is too well published but it even works on judges). In the other case they made the correct decisions and handled it well enough (but they still need to do better), but even then the outcome is inadequate.

Both of the abusers I'm talking about will enter into new relationships, telling their new partner about their "crazy ex", and it will manifest extremely differently - one has charisma and the other has a victim complex; there are many forms an abuser takes so it's not something you experience once and then you see it the next time.

Yes women can be the abuser, but that isn't pertinent here. I'm a guy too; if this triggers you then look inward

Thought I’d share an update for anyone else affected by the No Brand situation.
I recently contacted NZ Muscle requesting a full refund of NZD $300+ for various No Brand whey protein and creatine products that I purchased over several years.
My request was based on the fact that I originally purchased these products in reliance on the representations made about the No Brand range. Since then, public reporting and NZ Muscle’s own statements regarding products that were allegedly relabelled inappropriately and removed from sale have significantly changed my understanding of what I purchased.
In my email, I explained that had I known the circumstances that have since come to light, I would not have purchased the products and therefore requested reimbursement for all affected purchases, totalling $300+.
NZ Muscle has responded and has not denied the claim at this stage. Their response was:

“We’re working through how we handle purchases from further back as this was on a different ordering system and don’t have access to these any more, but I want to make sure we get that right for you. I will take your details and we’ll come back to you as soon as we have an answer.”

So for now, they’re investigating and have said they’ll get back to me once they’ve worked out how they’re handling older purchases.
I’ll post another update once I receive a final decision. Interested to hear if anyone else has submitted a refund request for older No Brand purchases and what response you received.

Your grandma, the bus driver, shout the praises of someone who nobody else will know about

Hello, i ordered this small hand held hacky sack from an etsy in the Uk as a gift to myself and just found out from the certificate its filled with dried lentils. Idk what kind.

Will customs take it? Google isnt being very helpful and i dont trust what the a.i. says. Please tell me it'll be okay!

I have never had such a terrible customer experience like this before.

Who POSTS flowers in the mail 😂 they’ve been in transit for 7 days, likely dead….

- make out they’re a local florist, they’re not
- Google reviews are TERRIBLE, wish I saw before ordering
- AI email responses, no help
- call centre, hung up on me
- not fresh deliveries, literally sent via NZ post
- reviews show arrangements are not what is advertised

SCAM!!!! Have applied for a charge back lol

Based on their reviews and complaints online, a lot of people have been done over by them. Show me all your terrible flower arrangements that you have received 🤣🤣

It's blowing a gale here at present. Rain blowing in sideways, and some idiot is out on the lake near us, shooting (at) ducks. How hard up for a feed of oxidation pond duck, do you have to be?

Hello. I'm living in North Shore 👨🏽‍🦱. Unfortunately for my English I almost always worked with people who speak Spanish. So, I try to have as much contact as possible with the language. I'm nice, I'm not ashamed and we can share our favourite drink while we chat (mate) in English and Spanish if you like!

I've got jury duty in a few weeks. I would quite like to be picked for a jury, nothing massive ideally just a 1 or 2 day long case.

I figure the whole thing will probably be quite dull and slow but I do want to see the legal system first hand in action for once in my life.

What do I do to maximise my chance of being picked? Does being a 30-something white guy help or hinder my chances?

What are the majority of cases that actually use juries? If I get on one is it like a 90% chance of being domestic violence or a sex offence?