Green Party
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The Green Charter The charter is the founding document of The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand. The Green Party of Aotearoa New Zealand accepts Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa New Zealand; recognises Maori as Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand; and commits to the following four Principles: Ecological Wisdom: The basis of ecological wisdom is that human beings are part of the natural world.
The Green Party and the National Party are working together to implement a nationwide home insulation programme and to update New Zealand’s energy efficiency strategy, while the Parties have also agreed to develop a New Zealand based regulatory system for natural health products.
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AUCKLAND — The Government’s decision to plough ahead with planned changes to Auckland’s governance without further consultation is unacceptable, say the Greens.
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A new report calls for more environmental protection of the South Island high country at the same time as the Government is weakening the laws and rules that could protect it, the Green Party said today.
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Business leaders and the public favour prompt Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) action to doing nothing by a margin of 2:1, according to a survey by the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development (NZBCSD).
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WELLINGTON — The Green Party expects the Government’s ‘polar bear hunt’ to close in for the kill at the Ministry for the Environment tomorrow, culling initiatives that have saved the taxpayer money.
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Money that could otherwise fund the Prime Minister’s national cycleway looks set to go to roads if Bill English’s comments on TVNZ’s Q&A programme on Sunday are anything to go by.
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Green Party MP Catherine Delahunty today urged for more planting of forests to protect communities and the environment on the East Coast of the North Island.
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The Green Party has called on the Government to broker a better deal for Kiwi businesses, workers and home-owners from the big Australian-owned banks following a critical report from the Finance and Expenditure Committee yesterday.
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The National-led Government’s poor political process jeopardised a critical law change on sex crimes, the Green Party said today.
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In a bold move to combat global warming and the Government’s indifference to New Zealand’s Kyoto commitments, the Green Party is leading from the front and will immediately stop using most electrical appliances in its Parliamentary offices as of today.
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The Inland Revenue Department made a profit from sustainability initiatives last year, cutting energy and travel spending by over one million dollars.
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AUCKLAND — The Green Party today voiced support for one Auckland Council to be given powers to develop environmental and transport policy, as well as one district plan, one rates system and one rates bill.
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The current review of overseas investment rules, particularly those around sensitive land suggests that the ACT Party is unduly pushing National Government policy, said Green Party Overseas Investment spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham.
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The National-led Governments policies will place more upward pressure on New Zealands current account deficit the Green Party warned after the Government signalled a rise in the deficit to 9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
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The Green Party is calling on the Government not to resume the cruel and unnecessary trade in exporting live sheep overseas for slaughter.
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National’s plan allowing employers to buy back workers’ holidays undermines workplace productivity and threatens the wellbeing of workers and their families.
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Giving $15 million dollars of TVNZ’s Charter funding to NZ on Air and then doing away with TVNZ’s Charter itself makes no sense - unless the government’s real agenda is to ready TVNZ for sale, said Green Party Broadcasting Spokesperson Sue Kedgley.
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Giving $15 million dollars of TVNZ’s Charter funding to NZ on Air and then doing away with TVNZ’s Charter itself makes no sense - unless the government’s real agenda is to ready TVNZ for sale, said Green Party Broadcasting Spokesperson Sue Kedgley.
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MAPUA — Residents living next to the Mapua site contaminated by pesticides still have numerous questions regarding their health and the health of the local environment, said the Green Party’s Toxics spokesperson Catherine Delahunty.
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Yet another smokescreen has emerged to obscure the simple message that New Zealand children deserve to live free of violence.
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AUCKLAND — The Government’s cuts to public transport expenditure and the regional fuel tax scheme put gains from the electrification of Auckland’s rail at risk.
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WELLINGTON CITY — Transport Minister Stephen Joyce opened "Walk to Work" day this morning, just two days after taking $15 million from those who walk and cycle and giving it to those who drive.
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Green Party MP Keith Locke has welcomed the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security’s recommendations to stop the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (SIS) spying on Members of Parliament.
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The Government seems keen to put the 'For Sale' sign up on land that is currently off-limits to foreign investment, said Green Party MP Dr Kennedy Graham.
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The National Government’s newly announced plan to accelerate the building of new state highways while reducing the money spent on alternatives reveals a complete denial of the actual transport challenges faced by this country.
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The Government has no credibility with its calls for employers to tough it out and retain staff when its own policies are causing widespread job losses, said Green Party Broadcasting Spokesperson Sue Kedgley.
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AUCKLAND — Auckland Green Party MP Keith Locke has warned against any 'pause' in Auckland's rail electrification project.
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The Green Party is urging Government and industry to use the recession as an opportunity to plant trees to generate jobs, and plant a greater variety of trees instead of continuing to gamble on a 'One Tree Policy'.
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A virulent new superbug that is highly contagious and resistant to many antibiotics has become established in New Zealand, revealed the Green Party today.
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Cutting funding to the Sustainable Business Network (SBN) shows the Government is taking an unsustainable and anti-business approach to sustainability, said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman.
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AUCKLAND — The Government’s decision to dump regional fuel taxes puts Auckland’s rail electrification project at risk.
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Far from ‘streamlining and simplifying’, the Government’s Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms will mean more bureaucracy and skyrocketing costs for local councils and ratepayers.
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The voluntary Clean Streams Accord has failed and it’s time to set enforceable water quality standards, Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman said today.
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The Green Party is calling for Maori rights under the Resource Management Act (RMA) to be protected.
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The Green Party is pleased the Government is committed to funding five hours pay at the minimum wage as part of the 'nine day fortnight', but retains some concerns.
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AUCKLAND — At a time of economic crisis selling vital strategic infrastructure such as the Ports of Auckland to 'buyers unknown' would be a foolhardy and stupid short-term move that would undermine New Zealand's long term economic wellbeing, said the Green Party.
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Cuts at the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) are driven by ideology rather than budget necessity Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman said today.
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The Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully needs to tell the public just what will qualify as New Zealand Aid (NZAID) under his reign, said Green Party Overseas Development Assistance Spokesperson Dr Kennedy Graham.
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The high uptake of free public transport by pensioners using their SuperGold cards shows that people are very willing to use public transport when it is affordable.
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The Green Party today called on the Government to immediately stop its political meddling with the Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC).
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New Zealand’s Honours system should remain independent the Green Party said today.
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A proposal to withhold a tiny portion of the milk payout payments from polluters shows that Fonterra is still not serious about promoting responsible farming and cleaning up rivers, the Green Party said today.
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The case of an Auckland man sacked from his job after his employer discovered he’d been sentenced to corrective training 21 years ago shows why the Clean Slate law needs an urgent review, Green Party Law and Order Spokesperson Metiria Turei said today.
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Green Party Conservation and Fisheries Spokesperson Metiria Turei has welcomed Ngai Tahu exercising their responsibility for protecting Te Waihora Lake.
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The next time Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman holds a press conference he should look the reporters and camera-people of TVNZ in the eye and apologise for putting their jobs on the line, said Green Party Broadcasting Spokesperson Sue Kedgley.
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The Green Party published its electoral expense return today in an effort to promote healthy politics.
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Four months after a commitment to divest the New Zealand Superfund from companies involved in manufacturing nuclear weapons and cluster bombs, the Green Party today called on the Government to set a deadline to sell its remaining $25 million investment.
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The Green Party welcomed the Government’s report today that announced spot audits for aged care facilities which will be published on the Ministry of Health website.
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John Key’s response to climate change and the economic crisis is at odds with international best practice, the latest science and with the broader consensus in New Zealand.
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The Green Party is concerned by the findings of a Law Commission report which suggests private schools are unchallenged over use of corporal punishment.
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The Prime Minister’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) discussions today with Kevin Rudd will confirm that it pays to act now and end uncertainty, thanks in part to an Australian Treasury report.
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Green Party Law and Order Spokesperson Metiria Turei today welcomed news of the Government’s upcoming Crime Summit and recommended victims’ rights and rehabilitation groups who should take part.
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Evidence of rising cigarette sales proves the need for action on ‘power wall’ advertising the Green Party said today.
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The National Government refuses to ban cigarette displays when the health select committee recommended urgent action last year, Green Party MP Metiria Turei said.
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Government procurement practices are costing Kiwi workers their jobs, Green Party MP Sue Bradford said today.
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The Government’s attacks on the Resource Management Act (RMA) will encourage environmental vandals, the Green Party said today.
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The Green Party is calling for more leading women’s organisations to be included in Friday’s Job Summit.
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Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons today publicly released the Party’s Green New Deal paper – given to Job Summit chair Mark Weldon two weeks ago – and circulated to Summit participants.
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The just released Jobs Summit attendance list contains glaring gaps, said the Green Party.
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Green Party MP Sue Kedgley is calling for the reporting of medical mishaps in the health system to be extended to cover aged care homes.
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The New Zealand public deserves to know if any products contaminated by melamine are currently on supermarket shelves, said Green MP Sue Kedgley.
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The Green Party’s co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons announced today that she will step down from her leadership position in June.
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As the Government signalled more environmental neglect today, Green Party Co-leader Russel Norman called on National for honesty.
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The Government’s axing of the pay-equity inquiries and the absence of women’s input to the Jobs Summit show serious disrespect to half of the workforce, said Green Party Women’s Affairs spokesperson Catherine Delahunty today.
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The Green Party has grave concerns for the future of community housing projects and the Rural Housing programme.
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Green MP Sue Kedgley is calling on the Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) to immediately halt the use of methylarsinic acid — an arsenic based herbicide used on New Zealand sports fields.
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The Green Party revealed figures today showing a massive increase in infections caused by a particularly nasty superbug – Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE), a highly infectious organism resistant to almost all antibiotics.
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The Government should stop the guilt upon accusation provisions in the Copyright Act from coming into force next week and allow a review of the draconian clauses in the Act, said Green MP Metiria Turei today.
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National’s plans to reverse changes to residential tenancy laws show a lack of balance and very poor timing.
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It is critical that Government set clear criteria before moving to rescue Fisher & Paykel or any other company in trouble.
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Anne Tolley today confirmed she is the Märie Antoinette of Education Ministers with her 'let them eat cake' and anything whatsoever attitude to food sold in schools, said the Green Party’s Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley.
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Confirmation today that the Government plans to cut at least 500 jobs from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) is a shocker.
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The Green Party is calling on the Government to rethink proposed changes to the Resource Management Act after leaked Cabinet advice reveals that they are an assault on fundamental rights of New Zealanders.
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OTAGO — The Government should let the Department of Conservation (DOC) stick up for our environment as it is legally required to do, Green Party Conservation Spokesperson Metiria Turei said today.
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National’s plans for privatising prisons, and a three-strikes-and-you’re-out policy will worsen, not improve, New Zealand’s criminal justice system.
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Mr Key needs to take more than just dancing tips from Obama - he needs to take note of the importance the United States is putting on moving their economy to sustainability and their workforce to green collar jobs, said Green Party Co-Leader Dr Russel Norman.
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As Auckland experiences its highest-ever temperatures, droughts worsen each year and Australian bush fires rage, the New Zealand Government is looking more and more behind the game.
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Changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) mean that the wealthy developer and the little Kiwi battler are in a David and Goliath situation – except the Kiwi battler no longer has a sling, said Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman today.
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The Electoral Finance Act (EFA) helps keep big money out of politics and the National-led Government should retain more than just its rules on donation disclosures, the Green Party said today.
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CANTERBURY — “The scientists off the Muppet Show, Dr Bunsen Honeydew and his assistant Beaker, would have more luck in containing a GE field trial than Crop and Food Research,” said Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons.
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The Green Party has welcomed two planks in the Government’s infrastructure package but says National has broken a recent promise on public transport.
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The Green Party resolution to hold MPs’ pay at current levels passed with support from all parties in Parliament today after negotiations with both National and Labour.
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WELLINGTON CITY — The Greens and National have reached agreement on a resolution to hold MPs’ pay at current levels while the New Zealand economy struggles.
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Today’s Minimum Pay rise to $12.50 is simply not enough for Kiwis on low incomes, says the Green Party.
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Green Party MP Keith Locke says Prime Minister John Key needs to ask some more questions of the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) - given that he is the responsible Minister.
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News that John Key is going to invest in upgrading and insulating state houses is puzzling, given that in the 2008 budget Parliament voted $53 million over five years to complete insulation and energy efficiency upgrades of all state houses, Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons said.
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Green Party MP Keith Locke wants an assurance that the Security Intelligence Service (SIS) will finally close the file on his life after over five decades of unwarranted snooping and pledge that it will cease monitoring the political activities of MPs.
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When Parliament resumes next week, Green Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons will move a resolution to freeze MP salaries at current levels for the remaining term of this Government.
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Green MP Health spokesperson Sue Kedgley says she is astounded that the National Party has scrapped a requirement that schools sell healthy food, and is giving schools the green light to start selling junk food again.
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News today of a big increase in numbers on the unemployment benefit is a wake up call that National must act quickly to implement real solutions to the current crisis.
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WAITANGI — Green Party Co-Leader, Dr Russel Norman, along with Green MPs –Sue Bradford, Kevin Hague and Catherine Delahunty will attend Waitangi Day commemorations in Waitangi over the next two days.
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Green Party Small Business Spokesperson, Kevin Hague, welcomed the Government's announcement of provisional tax relief measures to help small and medium businesses, but said that what was really needed was the kind of coherent 'Green New Deal' recently expounded by Green Party Co-Leader Russel Norman.
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“The Green Party is pleased that the health concerns of timber workers suffering from the effects of highly toxic pentachlorophenol (PCP) exposure are finally being acknowledged.
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The Greens are welcoming the Government’s decision to bring back home insulation as part of their economic package.
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The Green Party is saddened to hear of the sudden death of Disabled Persons Assembly President Eamon Daly.
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The Government’s proposed Resource Management (Simplify and Streamline) Amendment Bill, announced this afternoon, changes the balance away from environmental protection and community involvement and towards unsustainable development, say the Greens.
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Lifting the minimum wage will help New Zealand ride out the recession and the National-led Government must realise that and act quickly, says the Green Party.
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AUCKLAND — The Green Party says now is the time to charge full steam ahead with electrifying Auckland’s rail network.
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Ending stand down periods for Kiwi workers made redundant would mark a great start for new Minister Paula Bennett, says the Green Party.
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A dramatic drop in building consents and fears about the long-term health of the building industry is more evidence that social housing and the Green Homes Fund have a critical role in the Government’s stimulus plan, says Green Party Co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons.
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