Skip to content
The Standard
  • Economy
  • Environment
  • International
  • Media
  • Politics
  • Social issues
  • Home
  • About
  • Policy
  • Archives
  • FAQ
  • Contribute
  • Contact
« Daily Review 26/07/2018
Open Mike 27/07/2018 »

And We’ll be Reich Back …

Written By: te reo putake - Date published: 7:23 pm, July 26th, 2018 - 81 comments
Categories: class war, Ethics, racism - Tags: cryptofascism, fascism

It looks like NZ will be blessed with the presence of Canadian bigots Molyneux and Southern after all.

The hate speach tour organiser, Axiomatic, claim a secret venue has been found and the emissaries from the Ministry of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment will be crossing the Tasman in the next few days.

The venue has to be secret because the pair are scared of protest.

Tickets are on sale via the promoters website, which presumably will lead to the venue quickly being exposed.

Axiomatic say they’ll let ticket holders know when and where 24 hours before the rally begins. Kinda like going to a rave in the second summer of love. With burning crosses instead of glow sticks.

Anyway, keep an eye out for them. They should be easy to spot:

Share this:

  • Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon
  • Share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
« Daily Review 26/07/2018
Open Mike 27/07/2018 »

81 comments on “And We’ll be Reich Back …”

Comment numbers have changed to permanent references. Older quoted numbers may no longer identify the same comment.

  1. 1
    mickysavage
    26 July 2018 at 7:40 pm

    A couple of comments about the Free speech thingy.

    The Court has invited Auckland Council to seek costs against them. You don’t engage the Court processes unless you are confident about your case.

    And if they are looking for a really good case there is a young woman Renae Maihi who would appreciate a little help.

    https://thestandard.org.nz/givealittle-legal-fund-set-up-for-renae-maihi-for-defence-against-bob-jones-claim/

  2. 2
    Morrissey
    26 July 2018 at 7:52 pm

    I’ve heard of the Third Reich but these crass Canadians and their clueless Kiwi compañeros constitute something infinitely sadder: the Third Rate Reich.

    1. 2.1
      mickysavage
      26 July 2018 at 8:00 pm

      😀

    2. 2.2
      marty mars
      26 July 2018 at 8:09 pm

      Nice – good one.

  3. 3
    The Fairy Godmother
    26 July 2018 at 8:05 pm

    I kinda think it would be fun to stand outside in peaceful protest singing kymbaya my lord, we shall overcome etc. Would be great if the singers drowned them out.

  4. 4
    marty mars
    26 July 2018 at 8:08 pm

    Probably some anti haters will get tickets and tell other protesters and organise a fitting welcome to these people and their fawning sycophantic wankmates.

  5. 5
    One Two
    26 July 2018 at 8:15 pm

    Leave them to it…

    Accept that this stuff exists…

    Accept you can’t stop it…and should not spend energy trying to…or thinking of ways to stop it…

    Improve your own self…spread sincere emotions in your sphere of influence…

    Then it goes away…

    1. 5.1
      Kat
      26 July 2018 at 8:18 pm

      Om………………………

    2. 5.2
      Tricledrown
      27 July 2018 at 9:54 am

      Yavol mein dumkof.
      Hitler Rose to power because everyone was to scared to shut him down.
      These weasels keep pushing the boundaries of free speech.
      Then nech minute they ascend to power, and no more free speech.
      Hatred and divisiness is what they purvey.
      If we just roll over and let them away we are complicit.

      1. 5.2.1
        SaveNZ
        27 July 2018 at 2:51 pm

        Palestine, Cruxifixing your enemy’s teenage son aka Saudi, Yemen, Syria, harvesting body organs from prisoners in China, torture from the US and their alliances to political prisoners… there’s plenty of Nazi like acts going on as we speak, but somehow all this tyranny happening now with little condemnation of the perpetrators, seems to have found a great distraction by a couple of nobodies with a T-shirt saying key words to flip out MSM.

        You are allowed to have a personal point of view… but some people aka the above human rights abuses have gone further than that… but not much liberal outcry for the real acts… in some cases Labourite liberals helping them aka about Corbyn /anti semitic so they can grovel to power interests while having something easy to manufacture for MSM…

        yawn, even in OZ people like Pauline Hanson are irrelevant.

        Also Isn’t CHCH the home of the neo nazis, so the pair are going to the wrong city to talk, apart from that, it is just a publicity stunt.

      2. 5.2.2
        One Two
        27 July 2018 at 4:21 pm

        You’re welcome to roll over and feel like you’ve been complicit…you would be incorrect…but that’s not an issue…

        Or you can take direct action and have actually been complicit in that event and the negative outcomes which happen next…

        I take a different approach ….. as I’ve outlined..

        1. 5.2.2.1
          McFlock
          27 July 2018 at 4:26 pm

          lol you take no approach.

          You just pretend it’s not your problem.

          Niemöller had a thing or two to say about how that worked out for him.

      3. 5.2.3
        cleangreen
        27 July 2018 at 7:28 pm

        Tricledrown; – we dont have free speech today no mind so they wont change anything.
        “Just let it go Michael” (credit to Vogel bread advert.)

    3. 5.3
      marty mars
      27 July 2018 at 5:45 pm

      I spose if youre not aware and thetefore giving no energy to it then in reality it doesn’t exist subjectively for you. A bit like hearing of some atrocity which before hand you didnt know about and thetefore expended no energy on. But if you have to expend energy to continue to not notice the thing then, well, the more you pretend it isn’t a thing the more it becomes a thing. I find acceptance a good way but in moderation – it is what it is and resistance against it is invigorating and energizing and activating. It builds self esteem, self belief and community, trust and courage. It creates eddies of complexity that non resistance just cannot do. So, for me, I trust my heart, my intuition and instinct and sometimes I lie back and flow and sometimes I turn around and forge against the current. Contrast brother, contrast – it sets us free imo.

      1. 5.3.1
        One Two
        27 July 2018 at 6:41 pm

        Hi Marty

        For me, awareness is part of life. ..without awareness practicing mindfulness would become lessened to an extent IMO…i do choose where to put energy….taking all comers is not an option….although the approach can be similar anyway. ..

        Really enjoyed your comment Marty…

        Contrast for sure. ..brother. ..

        Go well

  6. 6
    Cinny
    26 July 2018 at 8:19 pm

    One would have thought a private venue is always more appropriate for S&M. JS 😉

  7. 7
    Jenny
    26 July 2018 at 8:20 pm

    It seems a strange reversal.

    Have the Hate Speech Coalition delved into their $50 thousand war chest to pay these monetised fascists to come back?

    1. 7.1
      corodale
      27 July 2018 at 9:38 am

      Naah, they pull it from the crests of the poor using QE, it’s an orthodox banking thing. Hang on, where we still talking about the Swiss?

  8. 8
    Roy
    26 July 2018 at 8:26 pm

    Oh, you have to pay? Then no thanks. You’d have to be mighty keen. In fact, I’m bored of them already.

  9. 9
    paul andersen
    26 July 2018 at 8:50 pm

    I call bullshit on the secret venue line. these clowns need public outrage so they can play the victim. IGNORE THEM, or laugh at them, but DO NOT PROTEST, you only give them the tv time they crave.

    1. 9.1
      Glenn McAllister
      27 July 2018 at 12:51 pm

      I’m tempted to go along just to see what all the fuss is about. The protesters and the attendees will probably be more interesting than the speakers to be honest.

  10. 10
    Chris T
    26 July 2018 at 8:53 pm

    Pretty funny

    Bad luck Goff

    Your playing the countries chief censor and moral guardian on the job paid for by the rate payer failed.

    1. 10.1
      tsmithfield
      26 July 2018 at 9:31 pm

      Yes. It seems coincidental that the Free Speech Coalition decided to defer the argument about health and safety until later in the year, and then immediately afterwards a new venue is announced.

      The sequence of events suggests that the FSC may have been aware of the new arrangements and hence didn’t feel any urgency to continue with the case at this point.

    2. 10.2
      SPC
      26 July 2018 at 9:56 pm

      Given their practice to use private venues and leave notice of the location late, it’s a possibility that seeking a council venue was a means to secure publicity.

      1. 10.2.1
        Chris T
        26 July 2018 at 10:04 pm

        If it was it worked

        1. 10.2.1.1
          Johnr
          27 July 2018 at 8:31 am

          They probably had some Masonic lodge booked way before

      2. 10.2.2
        David Mac
        27 July 2018 at 8:32 am

        Yep, population architecture is a hobby for these people. Their primary modus operandi is the creation of shit storms.

        Would 4 weeks or 24 hours venue notification kick up more of a hornet’s nest? These jokers will know, looks like 24 hours is best.

  11. 11
    SPC
    26 July 2018 at 9:53 pm

    Intending to be “rich back” in Canada, having milked their free publicity.

  12. 12
    Dennis Frank
    27 July 2018 at 8:07 am

    Guyon Espiner just hosted a discussion of this with the leftist protestor Morse & the rightist lawyer Franks. Well, he tried, but the leftist hysteria syndrome provoked her into talking over the top of both males whenever possible.

    Franks, on behalf of the FSC, clarified that they hadn’t withdrawn their legal action against the council, just the urgent part of it. He didn’t seem much interested in the views of the Canadians, but thought it extremely important that their side of the issues had a right to be heard as part of democracy.

    Hard to argue with that, but she tried anyway. Her logic was that anything they said was automatically hate speech so they had no right to speak. No court has provided a legal basis for her opinion. She’s just emoting her subjective take on the Human Rights Act, and asserting her opinion as if it were fact. The more the left try and spin their sectarian view into a misrepresentation of public opinion, the more disgusted with them the public will get. Nobody likes others insulting their intelligence.

    1. 12.1
      Ross
      27 July 2018 at 8:44 am

      This would be the same Valerie Morse who was convicted of burning the flag during a dawn service near the Cenotaph, and then fought tooth and nail to have her conviction overturned on the basis of…Bill of Rights Act and freedom of expression. Too funny.

      http://www.medialawjournal.co.nz/?p=484

      1. 12.1.1
        D'Esterre
        27 July 2018 at 10:21 pm

        Ross: “…then fought tooth and nail to have her conviction overturned on the basis of…Bill of Rights Act and freedom of expression.”

        Oh god yes, I remember that case. Neatly exemplifies the illiberalism of much of the “liberal” left.

        Wasn’t she known for getting her kit off, in protests of various sorts, back in the day?

    2. 12.2
      Cinny
      27 July 2018 at 9:47 am

      I wonder how much this will cost us tax payers, for the police needed at this gig?

      In aussie….

      “Organisers of the Canadian’s speaking tour are reportedly being charged almost $68,000 for a large police presence at the event, which authorities fear could draw violent protesters.”

      “It comes days after it emerged that organisers of alt-right mouthpiece Milo Yiannopoulos’ Melbourne event have so far refused to cough up the $50,000 bill for extra police resources used after violent protests broke out at his show last year.”

      https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/far-right-mouthpiece-lauren-southern-hit-with-hefty-police-bill-20180719-p4zsis.html

      1. 12.2.1
        indiana
        27 July 2018 at 10:02 am

        That article only proves that the invoice is being sent to the wrong people.

      2. 12.2.2
        cleangreen
        27 July 2018 at 7:36 pm

        Cinny,

        We should look at the ‘cost of the police action against the oil conference and TPPA conferences’ to keep the protestors apart fromm those forums, and they that had mega security provided by our police then while under the National Government administration.

        Pleanty of times the government has used our taxes to pay for police to protect their forum attendees.

        1. 12.2.2.1
          Cinny
          27 July 2018 at 8:23 pm

          That’s a really good point CG.

        2. 12.2.2.2
          Naki man
          27 July 2018 at 9:20 pm

          “Pleanty of times the government has used our taxes to pay for police to protect their forum attendees.”

          Yep i suggest the police send the bill to the protesters

    3. 12.3
      Tricledrown
      27 July 2018 at 10:01 am

      Dumb Fascist.
      Bullying the left by using lots of money and legal action to protect the rights of neo Fascists.
      Who want to take away the freedom of speech.
      This is bullying a right wing policy to keep the peasants in their place.

    4. 12.4
      Lucy
      27 July 2018 at 10:42 am

      Okay just stop-watched the interview
      Valerie Morse talked for a total of 146 seconds + (interruption of 6 seconds and 10 second free for all at end)
      Guyon Espiner talked for 151 seconds (with introduction and wrap up)
      Stephen Franks talked for 164 seconds + (interruption of 8 seconds and 10 second free for all at end)
      There was 3 incidence of talking over the top 1 by Morse at 4.40 which was shut down by Guyon after 3 seconds. One at 6:12 where Stephen talked over the top which was 8 seconds and one at the end where everyone was talking over everyone with Franks calling Morse a liar which lead to the end of the interview. So Valerie spoke less than Stephen and Guyon. If you are listening with men ears she was over speaking as the standard for women to speak enough is a ratio of 1:3. She was also talked over twice by both men and talked over Stephen twice, but this comes across as her talking over the top whenever possible?

      1. 12.4.1
        Dennis Frank
        27 July 2018 at 10:56 am

        Excellent work, Lucy! I’ll take your accuracy for granted & agree I overstated my critique accordingly. My perception, not reality.

    5. 12.5
      D'Esterre
      27 July 2018 at 9:50 pm

      Dennis Frank: “…but the leftist hysteria syndrome provoked her into talking over the top of both males whenever possible.”

      Yeah, we heard that interview. Morse did herself and the cause no favours; she didn’t have any kind of argument beyond: “It’s all hate speech”. Both of us ended up shouting at her to shut UP!

      Franks, by contrast, was calm and measured. He kept his cool when Morse talked over him.

  13. 13
    mauī
    27 July 2018 at 8:50 am

    Well we let Mr Tamaki and Hilary speak in this country. I can’t see a great deal of difference really.

    1. 13.1
      Ross
      27 July 2018 at 8:53 am

      And in the late 80s we allowed holocaust denier David Irving to speak publicly here. Some commenters here might be too young to remember 🙂

      1. 13.1.1
        D'Esterre
        27 July 2018 at 10:29 pm

        Ross: “And in the late 80s we allowed holocaust denier David Irving to speak publicly here.”

        I don’t recall that, though I was certainly old enough. In my own defence, I had other things to think about at that stage, which may explain why I’ve forgotten it. I certainly remember him being refused entry here in the early noughties. I supported that decision then; looking back now, I think it’d have been better to have let him in.

  14. 14
    Brian
    27 July 2018 at 9:01 am

    Don’t protest, don’t give them the oxygen. If the thing is ignored it will simply fade away, they will struggle for traction in NZ anyway and will only be preaching to the already converted. Protest will just shove them into the limelight. Ignore.

    1. 14.1
      McFlock
      27 July 2018 at 12:59 pm

      In the meantime these posters and leaflets are being distributed in dunedin.

      One might think that it’s a big call to connect this with the aryan-canadian-crypto-fascist-duo, but the slogan on the posters looks awfully familiar…

    2. 14.2
      paul andersen
      27 July 2018 at 3:20 pm

      yes brian, unlike coachroachs, these bugs thrive on sunlight and oxygen.

  15. 15
    Philj
    27 July 2018 at 11:26 am

    Who benefits from this? The MSM. they are the main beneficiaries. They are the news manufacturers. They can make a sewage farm out of a single turd.

  16. 16
    veutoviper
    27 July 2018 at 11:46 am

    I in no way support Southern and Molyneux views, but quite frankly, NZ has been played from woe to go in this PR exercise of cat and mouse.

    That is what it has been – a PR exercise where NZ (whether it be Goff, Trotter and friends in the Free Speech Coalition, those who supported the Coalition financially, the msm in making assumptions that the visit was off etc etc) has fallen for it hook, line and sinker.

    Australia was a little less naive. While there were hold-ups etc in granting visas, there was no banning them from certain venues (in public anyway) and the publicity etc that this resulted in here in NZ.

    Yes, the Victoria police have presented an invoice of c$68K for security in Melbourne. Yes, there have been protests at each of the venues to date – Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide – and more are likely in Sydney on Saturday, and possibly in Brisbane on Sunday in their final Australian appearance.

    The Melbourne event was well covered by the Australian media, the second event in Perth less so (Chelsea FC were in town for a friendly match) ; and last Tuesday’s event in Adelaide there was little media coverage. Southern actually went outside to face off with the small number of protesters – presumably to provoke coverage (IMHO says cynical me).

    There has been little mention of the numbers attending each event to date. Without giving any indication of the overall capacity of the venues etc, according to the Axiomatic website this morning:
    Sydney early admission tickets (A$99) and Meet and Greet tickets (A$199) are sold out – https://axiomatic.events/stefan-molyneux-lauren-southern-live-in-sydney/

    Brisbane Meet and Greet (A$199) are sold out but all other types are still available
    – https://axiomatic.events/stefan-molyneux-lauren-southern-live-in-brisbane/

    Originally, the website showed the same ticket structure and prices for Auckland as for the Australian venues, but these have now changed to a slightly different structure – and some different prices.

    In Auckland, there is no early screening of Southern’s Farmlands documentary ($15) at 6 pm. The event is shown as taking place from 8pm – 10.30pm, with doors opening at 7.30pm, although VIP Meet and Greet ticket holders (40 only) get to do so back stage for 60 mins before the event – presumably from 7pm.

    Despite the current exchange rate of NZD = AUD0.92 or thereabouts, General Admission and Early Admission tickets are $20 more than in Australia at NZD99 and NZD129 respectively. There are no Meet and Greet tickets (were AUD199) but VIP Meet and Greet tickets are $200 less than in Australia at NZD299 (vs AUD499). Dinner with Southern and Molyneux is the same at $749.

    https://axiomatic.events/stefan-molyneux-and-lauren-southern-live-in-auckland/

    Not being an Aucklander, I don’t know if any of that gives any clues as to the venue.

    Personally I really hope everyone just ignores it* – no protests, no coverage etc. Are there any other big events on in Auckland on Aug 3?

    * Yes, you may call me a hypocrite** after writing all of the above and not ignoring it myself! LOL

    ** But not a Stalinist …

    1. 16.1
      Dennis Frank
      27 July 2018 at 12:17 pm

      That info is helpful, actually. If I still lived in Ak I’d go out of curiosity, but having to pay that much tells us that they’re playing to a wealthy crowd. Interesting that the Oz gigs sold out, eh? Gives us a glimpse into the sector of society that welcomes the reassurance they seem to offer. Personally, I think their `it’s okay to be white’ thing is banal but others clearly feel threatened by pc-conformism.

      White liberal guilt is an interesting pathology: it shows us how biological our feelings are. There’s no rational basis for a pakeha Aotearoan to accept responsibility for what the settler govt & their troops did here in the 19th century. Our great-grandparents weren’t yet born at the time. Pan-generational guilt is a bullshit scheme and the leftists promoting it should be ashamed of their idiocy. Anyway, you can see why conservatives get spooked by the bullshit, enough to feel the need to organise a countering trend. These binary forces in politics are natural (but irritating).

      1. 16.1.1
        Carolyn_Nth
        27 July 2018 at 12:28 pm

        2 of my great grand parents arrived in NZ in 1862. The land wars continued to 1872. They, and their descendants (including me) benefited from the land grants they got, and the colonialist values that contributed to developing NZ. One of their sons married a Brit woman who was overtly racist, according to my perception of her.

        Other grandparents arrived in NZ in early 1900s, contributing to the British cultural colonisation of NZ. My parents were socialised into some of the same colonialist values of their parents.

        It has everything to do with the family values I grew up with. I acknowledge that I have benefited from the activities of my forebears that have caused hardship to tangata whenua over the last couple of centuries.

        1. 16.1.1.1
          Dennis Frank
          27 July 2018 at 12:48 pm

          Hmm. My Frankish ancestors came out from Germany on a sailing ship in 1875, had a farm in Taranaki according to the father of my father, so I asked him what happened to it and he said it was stolen by a clever lawyer. So I suppose I ought to have inherited a cultural bias against pakeha lawyers. Possibly it was on confiscated Maori land but all I know is he went to primary school in Huiakama.

          I think I can concede that technically, I was born into a situation of relative privilege due to dispossession of indigenous folk here but when you’ve lived a life of grim struggle you tend not to see it that way. My support for redress of historical wrongs to Maori was never motivated by guilt. The twin principles of personal responsibility and social accountability constitute the relevant ethics.

          1. 16.1.1.1.1
            Carolyn_Nth
            27 July 2018 at 2:44 pm

            Dennis, it’s you who are using the word “guilt”. Where does that come from in relation to the on-going legacy of inequalities as a result of British Imperialism?

            1. 16.1.1.1.1.1
              Dennis Frank
              27 July 2018 at 3:19 pm

              I used it in my comment (12.17) in relation to pc-conformism because it seemed to be the driving psychology behind the syndrome when it first emerged in the media a couple of decades back. Unfortunately the entire profession of psychology went into a collective funk after the eighties. Not sure why. It would help if they would emerge from defeatism and contribute psychoanalysis to public debate of these syndromes that drive political behaviour.

              1. 16.1.1.1.1.1.1
                Carolyn_Nth
                27 July 2018 at 3:30 pm

                Well, that guilt motivation is not something I accept. And I’m not that keen on psycho-analysis, which is based on all sorts of patriarchal and imperialist assumptions – even while feminists and some black theorists have embraced it.

                And what the hell is “pc-conformism”? Now it would be interesting to trace the motivations behind that kind of attitude.

                For me,it’s about looking at where Māori and Pacific people are now culturally, and in the social and political context, and seeing how that contains elements of the legacy of colonisation.

                1. 16.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
                  Dennis Frank
                  27 July 2018 at 3:51 pm

                  I use pc-conformism as a useful label for the type of group-think leftists use to bind themselves into politically-correct stances. So it’s a behavioural psychology at play in the culture wars. Wouldn’t be quite so toxic if the proponents refrained from projecting their collective delusions onto everyone else.

                  1. 16.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
                    McFlock
                    27 July 2018 at 3:55 pm

                    Which is all an elaborate house of cards that falls down if “guilt” has nothing to do with a simple recognition that the colonialism of yesteryear still has deep consequences for people to this day.

                    1. 16.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1
                      corodale
                      27 July 2018 at 8:01 pm

                      Colonialism is an impulse of endless continuum. Make peace with yourself and consider, what is the positive anti-thesis of guilt? eg. How might personal feelings of gratitude serve humanity?

                      True privilage is having the capacity to share and pass-on a positive state of being – a gift that’s worth working hard to acquire.

                    2. 16.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2
                      Carolyn_Nth
                      27 July 2018 at 8:17 pm

                      corodale, it’s not me or McFlock that are claiming feelings of guilt. If you and DF have those feelings, that’s for you to sort out.

                      Some people recognise their privileges, and just have empathy for those whose lives have been damaged by institutionalised arrangements.

                      Exactly who, or what groups are “projecting their collective delusions”?

              2. 16.1.1.1.1.1.2
                Hanswurst
                27 July 2018 at 10:09 pm

                Often when I’ve seen terms like “pc-conformism”, or its stablemates such as ‘groupthink’ or ‘following the sheep’, it has been to denigrate the ideas of those who don’t conform to values that a dominant culture perceives as common sense. In a lot of your comments, you seem to be making a raft of assumptions that you see as being just how the world obviously works, and attributing simplistic, uniform motives to all who disagree with you. Maybe the leftist hive mind only exists in your mind…

      2. 16.1.2
        veutoviper
        27 July 2018 at 2:56 pm

        Interesting that the Oz gigs sold out, eh?

        We don’t know whether any of the Oz gigs sold out in totality, Dennis – simply that some types of tickets have sold out for the Sydney and Brisbane events over the weekend.

        I did not watch very closely for the earlier events in Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide but do have some recall that again some ticket types also sold out for those events.

        But the ticket prices certainly cater to the wealthy end of the market. I do recall seeing something in passing (but cannot find it again) in the Australian media that ticket sales/attendance had been lower that expected/wanted.

        But over the years, my perceptions have been that some Australians (including some who are relatives of mine, sad to say) are much more white racists than equivalent NZers. IMHO.

        1. 16.1.2.1
          paul andersen
          27 July 2018 at 3:29 pm

          every good promoter everywhere always “sells out” sometimes in both ways. .its good PR to say your event sells out, easy to fudge what actually sells out, six seats on the stage, photo ops, or 20,000 general seats. what would be a good wheeze ,would be to publicly photo(all in the name of free speech and openness) all entrants. nothing to hide ,nothing to fear, isnt that the line?

          1. 16.1.2.1.1
            veutoviper
            28 July 2018 at 11:25 am

            I agree, paul, that saying tickets were selling fast or some types were sold out is often a promotion tactic – and I suspect very much so with this lot.

            I should have been more specific in my wording and said the some types of tickets were “being reported as” or “supposedly” sold out.

            I checked the sites this morning and the Sydney and Brisbane are the same in respect of ticket types reported as sold out except that VIP Meet and Greet tickets ($499) for today’s event in Sydney are also now supposedly sold out – all 10 of them! The number of AUD749 tickets available for dinner with them in Sydney are still reported as 14 – no change for many days.

  17. 17
    r0b
    27 July 2018 at 2:17 pm

    Long read but well worth it:

    https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/jul/26/the-free-speech-panic-censorship-how-the-right-concocted-a-crisis

    1. 17.1
      te reo putake
      27 July 2018 at 2:44 pm

      Excellent read, rOb. The new right have used the tactic of turning the tables on those who oppose bigotry by calling them bigots quite effectively. In a world where ignorance is king, concepts like empathy, solidarity and understanding are mere flickering flames.

      1. 17.1.1
        Enough is Enough
        27 July 2018 at 2:52 pm

        I think most, if not all, people in the debate are absolutely fine with people opposing bigotry.

        The question is whether those bigoted people are entitled to express their bigoted views.

        If we can’t defeat those bigoted people with sound argument and reason then perhaps our argument isn’t that sound.

        What we can’t do is defeat them by attempting to muzzle them.

        1. 17.1.1.1
          McFlock
          27 July 2018 at 3:36 pm

          Sound arguments only work against people interested in sound arguments.

          People who monetise discord aren’t interested in sound arguments.

          1. 17.1.1.1.1
            greywarshark
            27 July 2018 at 9:33 pm

            McFlock
            You put that truly. Bigoted arguments sit nicely in a pub with a beer or sloshing back something stronger. How many times is one forced to listen to spurious arguments, and appeals to fake ideas and authority to justify some position of power and authority?

    2. 17.2
      Carolyn_Nth
      27 July 2018 at 3:01 pm

      Thanks, r0b.

      Very interesting article. Basically saying that conservatives are using the appeal to “free speech” to paper over the cracks in the crisis in conservatism – when the appeal to “freedom of the market” is losing traction.

      Also it’s an interesting observation that young people are tending to turn leftwards, partly because more are university educated; while the mainstream media tend to favour business and freedom of the market.

      Also useful is the argument, that, in the digital age, speech as never been freer – it’s getting listened to that is the issue – so many use the claims to victimisation (restriction from one platform) as fuel to get mainstream media attention.

      And so it is with the Canadian pair. They are provocateur’s aiming to stir things aup, claim victimhood, etc, in order to get mainstream attention. It never really has been about freedom of speech, but about getting their poisonous views heard and normalised in the mainstream.

    3. 17.3
      Dennis Frank
      27 July 2018 at 3:07 pm

      Wow, this media analyst is so good he makes other Guardian writers also-ran.

      “Different norms and cultural expectations are colliding all the time, as doubt is cast on the authority of “mainstream” media and democratic institutions. The claim that certain people are being silenced is often a convenient spin on the way this messier, less-predictable world means that prominent voices have lost authority. In this context, the defence of free speech promises to restore a traditional cultural order.”

      This made me sceptical at first, since the notion that any exercise of free speech can restore traditional cultural order this late in the game is obviously a non-starter, but he goes on to explain how it emerges as a general motivation among conservatives. I think his rationale stands up to critical evaluation – and it serves to explain the FSC.

  18. 18
    tsmithfield
    27 July 2018 at 4:29 pm

    Shrieking “racist” or “Nazi” isn’t helping much. Rather, I think it is important to examine and criticise the message rather than the messenger.

    I have several thoughts about the issues raised by Southern et al.

    I agree with her in some respects but disagree in other major areas.

    Multiculturalism is a huge problem in Europe at the moment. But this is due to the flood of immigrants coming in and the lack of capacity for them to be managed in a manner that enables them to be integrated into society.

    Therefore that there are huge problems is not surprising.

    But Southern’s answer to the problem (banning immigrants) is overly simplistic.

    However, NZ doesn’t have the same flood of immigrants coming in. We are in a much better position to help immigrants integrate into our society. So, Southern doesn’t really have much of an axe to grind here.

    So, I think we need to be evaluating our methods for integrating immigrants who are fleeing various conflicts. For instance, a lot of these people are probably traumatised, and need psychological help. But are we providing that help for these people? Are they aware of the cultural expectations in our society (i.e. our bill of rights)?

    1. 18.1
      KJT
      27 July 2018 at 8:29 pm

      https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/93710597/Migrants-coming-into-New-Zealand-at-a-faster-rate-of-knots-compared-to-other-countries-figures

      Migrants are piling into New Zealand at nearly twice the rate than in Australia and more than three times the rate of the UK, figures suggest.

      Parliamentary research, obtained by Labour, shows New Zealand took in, on average 14.7 people for every 1000 in our population during the year to June 30, 2016.

      Of the developed countries New Zealand most often compares itself to, Australia took in the next largest amount at a rate of 7.5 per 1000 population.
      Labour leader Andrew Little and immigration spokesman Iain Lees-Galloway plan to cut immigration by up to 30,000 if in …
      David Unwin

      Labour leader Andrew Little and immigration spokesman Iain Lees-Galloway plan to cut immigration by up to 30,000 if in Government. New Zealand needed a “breather” to invest in infrastructure that could keep up with rapid population growth.

      The United Kingdom – which was currently navigating post-Brexit negotiations arguably brought about by growing discontent over high rates of immigration – stood at a rate 5.1 per 100 population the year prior.

      Germany.
      https://www.indexmundi.com/germany/net_migration_rate.html
      Net migration rate: 1.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2017 est.)
      https://www.asylumineurope.org/reports/country/germany/statistics

      We have raised our population by a fifth in ten years. Only countries in the front line of refugees, like Syria, were remotely comparable.

      1. 18.1.1
        WILD KATIPO
        27 July 2018 at 10:15 pm

        Why is it,… that in this country with Polynesians representing some of the worst statistics regarding poverty and incarcerations,… we continue to import predominately Chinese and Indian immigrants?

        Why is it,… that in the 1960’s we thought that it was OK to have Pacific Islanders and Maoris from rural backgrounds work and being designated to menial jobs in factory’s?… yet we never went further in the neo liberal paradigm and advocated that those same workers, – and their children , – were deemed worthy of investing in to stem the brain drain to Australia?

        650,000 New Zealanders call Australia ‘ home ‘ temporarily.

        It is a constant source of black humor that we now import absolute foreigners with no concept of what this country’s history involves, who have NO interest whatsoever of that history or that intermarried amalgamated culture involves… simply to fill the cannon fodder ranks of those elitists in the business sectors whose demand’s are for ‘more menial workers’…

        Do you not see how we as a country have been played royally by the business elite?

        And given dubious legitimacy by the avarice filled and duplicity of the advent of neo liberalism by Roger Douglas and his fellow travelers, Ruth Richardson ?

        So who are the business ‘ elite’?

        Well , mainly the former Business Roundtable,… now calling themselves the NZ Initiative.

        New Right Fight – Who are the New Right?
        http://www.newrightfight.co.nz/pageA.html

        Oh ,… and a little bit of gratuitous family pride just for the hell of it.

        The CLAN GUNN – YouTube
        Video for the clan gunn song you tube▶ 4:35

  19. 19
    WILD KATIPO
    27 July 2018 at 5:21 pm

    If they do come, set up a large screen and repeatedly play this :

    PROPAGANDA FILM THAT OUTRAGED HITLER — THE LAMBETH …
    Video for lambeth walk hitler▶ 2:24

  20. 20
    Carolyn_Nth
    27 July 2018 at 5:39 pm

    New twitter ID:

    Tāmaki Anti-Fascist Action (TAFA)
    @AntiFascistAkl

    When the time comes, every one of us has the responsibility to stand up against fascism. That time is now. Do your bit by coming along to the peaceful vigil on Friday the 3rd. More details coming soon.

  21. 21
    Paul Martinson
    28 July 2018 at 8:12 am

    If hate speech was real then this post and most of comments would be hate speech too. That’s the irony and why free speech is so important. Even the anti fascists can’t see that they’re just as intolerant and bigotted as those they oppose.

    1. 21.1
      te reo putake
      28 July 2018 at 8:22 am

      Yeah, nah, Paul.

      No question I’m intolerant of bigots, as are most on the left. Molyneux and Southern are professional racists, so they are not at the same level as your drunk uncle having a whinge about the maaaaris. They make money by promoting racism and need to be seen for what they are and what they represent.

      As I said in an earlier post, there is no such thing as free speech. Honesty may be the best policy, but it usually comes at a cost.

    2. 21.2
      Ad
      28 July 2018 at 8:38 am

      1,000+ comments at TS on this topic of how to stop two speakers coming into New Zealand.

      By a long, long way the most commented topic this year, with the worst child poverty one can imagine, streets full of homeless, awash with drugs, higher taxes for lower services, doing fuck all about climate change or conservation, and completely directionless government. It’s the very definition of distracted meaningless flailing.

      This “free” speech remains free because it has cost the left nothing – nothing except their inability to uphold fundamental rights under the most minor of provocations. Neither the left-green government nor the activist left can decide whether the best thing is to deny them, ignore them, or get ready to punch them.

  22. 22
    tsmithfield
    28 July 2018 at 9:06 am

    I think the left are losing badly at the moment.

    That is because the likes of Southern et al. frame themselves as being very reasonable, fair, and unflappable when confronted by protestors and those on the left with opposing views.

    On the other hand, Southern et al. are able to frame those on the left as intolerant, totalitarian, and unhinged. The left provide plenty of opportunities for Southern et al. to put up video to prove their point.

    What is needed is for the left to put up people willing to debate logically with Southern et al. and undermine their logic.

    Here is an example of this:

    Southern argues against multiculturism as in setting up distinct cultures within a dominant culture. Many of us would share concerns for example, about Sharia law being established in NZ amongst minority groups if that meant undermining womens and other minority rights.

    So, her pointing out the problems isn’t such an issue. It is her solution of banning immigration of minorities where she becomes unhinged. So, being able to argue these points logically is how to defeat her.

    For instance, in her Farmlands documentary, she praises the community of Orania in South Africa, which is a white example of the philosophy she opposes.

    The way I would frame the debate with her is that if things are as bad for whites in South Africa as her documentary suggests, would she accept that the perceived need for Orania to exist would diminish if whites were better accepted in South Africa? It would be difficult to argue to the contrary I expect.

    Then the point could be made then is that if Westerners were more accepting of minority groups, would they feel the need so much to set up their own distinct culture groups?

  23. 23
    Jenny
    28 July 2018 at 1:58 pm

    Anecdotal accounts from visitors comparing New Zealand and Australia on race relations, are almost unanimous in declaring Australia as being much more racist than New Zealand.

    Normalising Hate Speech in Godzone

    Don Brash’s Free Speech coalition has set the precedent. The Free Speech Coalition, in letting neo-nazis and fascists know they will have a welcome here. Following close on the heels of the news that the on again off again visit of neo-nazis Molyneux and Southern is back on, It can come as no surprise that the welcome of neo-fascist views ushered in by the FSC, has led Pauline Hanson to announce that she too will be visiting New Zealand to push her own brand of hate speech, and recruit adherents Kiwi supporters to her virulent brand of racism.

    Polarising Australian politician Pauline Hanson to visit New Zealand
    Bridie Chetwin-Kelly – News Hub, July 27, 2018

    Right-wing Australian politician Pauline Hanson is being lined up to visit New Zealand for a public appearance expected to bring New Zealand’s law on freedom of speech into question again.

    Known mostly for her controversial views on immigration, she is the president of Australian populist party One Nation, which also lists anti-Islam, anti-multiculturalism and conservatism among their ideologies.

    1. 23.1
      Jenny
      28 July 2018 at 2:06 pm

      Auckland’s Mayor Phil Goff told Newstalk ZB last week that she, like anyone else, is welcome to apply for venue hire in Auckland.

      When Pauline Hansen is turned down, which under the same criteria used to exclude Southern and Molynieux, she will be. Will the Free Speech Coalition renew their law suit against the Council?

      Or will this shower just decide to keep the money instead?

      I wonder if Whale oil will ask for his donation back?

      1. 23.1.1
        Carolyn_Nth
        28 July 2018 at 3:24 pm

        i don’t think there’s any certainty that Auckland Council will be declined an AC venue on safety grounds.

        But now I do think I will be joining protests against these racist neo-nazi imports. I’m not keen on the likelihood of violence by a small number of protesters. But I WILL join a protest – preferably a general anti-neo-nazi one away from the venues used by these provocateurs.

Comments are closed.

Sidebar & Widgets

  • Log in
  • Donate
  • Contribute post
  • Articles RSS
Select from:
Sort by:
  • lprent on
    Feeds are back
  • Mountain Tui to mikesh on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • Mountain Tui to Incognito on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • Mountain Tui to mikesh on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • Mountain Tui to weka on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • weka to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • weka to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to weka on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • weka to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • weka to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • weka to Mercurio on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • weka to Craig H on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • SPC to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Craig H to weka on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • SPC to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • greywarshark on
    Daily review 16/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Drowsy M. Kram to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to I Feel Love on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to PsyclingLeft.Always on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • weka to Susie Vincent on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • The Chairman to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to Bill Drees on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to Drowsy M. Kram on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to mikesh on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • Susie Vincent on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • Drowsy M. Kram to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • greywarshark to Psycho Milt on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio to bwaghorn on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio to Res Publica on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • Mercurio to weka on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • bwaghorn to Belladonna on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • bwaghorn to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • bwaghorn to Bearded Git on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • bwaghorn to mac1 on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio to Belladonna on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • I Feel Love to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • I Feel Love to Belladonna on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • bwaghorn to tWig on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • Mercurio to weka on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio on
    Feeds are back
  • The Chairman to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Belladonna to PsyclingLeft.Always on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Patricia Bremner on
    Feeds are back
  • SPC to Psycho Milt on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Psycho Milt to weka on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • greywarshark to weka on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • Psycho Milt to tWig on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio to weka on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • greywarshark to lprent on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • SPC to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to Incognito on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to weka on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to weka on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to mikesh on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • greywarshark to Mercurio on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to weka on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • weka to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to Ad on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to mikesh on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • mikesh to SPC on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • mikesh to mikesh on
    The Opportunity National Courtship
  • mikesh to Ad on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • Incognito to mikesh on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • Incognito to SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to Bearded Git on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC to weka on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • PsyclingLeft.Always on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • SPC on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • mikesh to Incognito on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • Mike the Lefty on
    How To Celebrate Getting Really Rich
  • Incognito to mikesh on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • tWig to Bearded Git on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to tWig on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Bearded Git to tWig on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to Bill Drees on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to Bearded Git on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to weka on
    Open Mike 16/10/2026
  • Bill Drees on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to tWig on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Bearded Git on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to weka on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Incognito to weka on
    Open Mike 16/10/2026
  • weka to mac1 on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to mac1 on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • weka to Mercurio on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to mac1 on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • weka to Incognito on
    Open Mike 16/10/2026
  • weka to Drowsy M. Kram on
    Open Mike 16/10/2026
  • weka to Incognito on
    Open Mike 16/10/2026
  • mac1 to The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Ad on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman to Ad on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • mac1 to Ad on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • Mercurio on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • The Chairman on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to Ad on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to Mercurio on
    How To Celebrate Getting Really Rich
  • Ad on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • tWig to bwaghorn on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • Ad on
    Open Mike 17/10/2026
  • bwaghorn to Ad on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • mikesh to Ad on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
  • mikesh to Incognito on
    Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years

Replies load when this tab is opened.

  • Feeds are back
    by lprent
  • Open Mike 17/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 16/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • How To Celebrate Getting Really Rich
    by advantage
  • Open Mike 16/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 15/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Voting for Opportunity could cement the right wing for another 3 years
    by Mountain Tui
  • The Opportunity National Courtship
    by mickysavage
  • Enrolment levels
    by lprent
  • Open Mike 15/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 14/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Open Mike 14/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 13/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Open Mike 13/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 12/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Lies Damned Lies and National Party Employment statistics
    by mickysavage
  • Open Mike 12/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Why is everybody talking about tax and fiscal holes?
    by Incognito
  • Open Mike 11/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Open Mike 10/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 09/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Coalition’s problem: bullshit doesn’t conceal poor performance
    by lprent
  • Open Mike 09/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Chris Hipkins Is Right
    by advantage
  • Daily review 08/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Calculated cruelty
    by mickysavage
  • The Leader’s debate
    by mickysavage
  • Open Mike 08/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 07/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • National plans to slash overseas aid
    by mickysavage
  • Who buys the election – follow the money
    by lprent
  • Open Mike 07/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 06/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • The Diesel Powered Election
    by advantage
  • RNZ-Reid poll happy dance
    by weka
  • Open Mike 06/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 05/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Green Party policy: Reconnecting Aotearoa
    by weka
  • Open Mike 05/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Open Mike 04/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • To overhang or not to overhang, that’s the question
    by Incognito
  • The Race for Tamaki
    by mickysavage
  • Open Mike 03/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 02/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • The Race for Mt Albert
    by mickysavage
  • Open Mike 02/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 01/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • How Could Labour Pay for Transport Without Raising Fuel Taxes?
    by Guest post
  • Opportunity’s five bottom lines
    by weka
  • Open Mike 01/10/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 30/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Open Mike 30/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 29/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Nicola Willis high on a surplus of inflation and unemployment
    by lprent
  • Watch Waitaki
    by advantage
  • The Latest One News Verian Poll
    by Guest post
  • Open Mike 29/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 28/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Talking up the left
    by weka
  • Open Mike 28/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Peak Trump 
    by advantage
  • Stanford gets caught out
    by mickysavage
  • Theme update
    by lprent
  • Open Mike 27/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Open Mike 26/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 25/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Government is pathetic on gassing
    by lprent
  • Open Mike 25/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 24/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • National’s LNG terminal tax is on hold (for the moment).
    by lprent
  • Open Mike 24/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 23/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Unmasking the TaxPayers Union as the Tobacco Protection Union
    by lprent
  • Open Mike 23/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • Daily review 22/09/2026
    by notices and features
  • A Puff of the Bongcloud [Chess Nonsense]
    October thus far has been yet more poetry writing, and I can now report that as of a couple of days ago, The Lay of Notich Serpent Tongue is now longer than Milton’s Paradise Lost. But on a lighter note, I can report a very nice chess game, with the Bongcloud Opening: It has been […]
    A Phuulish Fellow by strda221 · Yesterday
  • 16 October 2026
    Nurses dominate the union coverage in today’s Union News. The Chrises’ battle over the minimum wage also continues alongside a story on contractor vs employee status. Union coverage Employment The post 16 October 2026 appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Friday
  • KiwiStack Live with Bernard Hickey & Morgan Edwards on when our Govt 'ran out of money'
    Finance academic Morgan Edwards has discovered the Govt ‘ran out of money’ 272 times since 1997. How was that possible? We’re often told Govt can’t spend money unless it first taxes & borrows money.
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Friday
  • Australian research needs to be protected like critical infrastructure
    Australia should better protect its most strategically sensitive university research by adapting principles from its Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) framework, its arrangement for defending vital facilities, supply chains, information technology and communications. Universities increasingly ...
    The Strategist by Gobi Jegarajasingham · Friday
  • KiwiStack Live with Bernard Hickey and Bryce Edwards on Cost of Living and Election 2026
    A discussion about surveys showing concerns about cost of living and how it’s affecting Election 2026
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Friday
  • As Chinese organised crime expands in Africa, so does China’s policing footprint
    China is exporting its policing model, and organised crime gets it in the door. Beijing now has policing arrangements across most of Africa, and the same expansion is well underway in Southeast Asia and the ...
    The Strategist by Oscar Warren · Friday
  • Bread, milk, power, and petrol keep climbing under Luxon’s Government
    The cost of everyday essentials is still rising unsustainably, says the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi. Kiwis’ wallets are being emptied by the weekly grocery shop, the monthly power bill, and at the petrol pump. New StatsNZ figures for September 2026 show food prices rose 2.4 percent compared to September 2025,… Read More »Bread, milk, power, and petrol keep climbing under Luxon’s Government The post Bread, milk, power, and petrol keep climbing under Luxon’s Government appeared first
    NZCTU by Aaron · Friday
  • This story should dominate the election debate
    Starship’s cancer treatment suspension is emblematic of decades of health system underfunding eroding public services to points of collapse; Hospital system now second-biggest voter concern, & rising
    The Kaka · Friday
  • Child Cancer Treatment
    Children and Parents suffer delays caused by staffing crisis.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · Friday
  • Picks n’ Mixes & In the Papers for Friday Oct 16
    Starship 3 months away from full staffing as cancer treatments suspended; Greens say will reverse National’s public service cuts; Luxon walks back promise to lift minimum wage as much as inflation
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Friday
  • Weekly Roundup 16-October-2026
    Kia ora and welcome to our regular roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Matt looked at options for solving post-event crowding at Kingsland Station. This story rumbled on for a few days, with the Mayor also weighing in (NZ Herald): “Before anyone starts calling for uncosted and expensive new infrastructure, we need to establish the facts and make sure existing plans and procedures are being followed properly,” Brown added.… The post Weekly Roundup 16-Oct
    Greater Auckland by Greater Auckland · Friday
  • In a contested Indo-Pacific, undersea power is critical. AUKUS is our strategy
    AUKUS is not just a submarine acquisition program; it is a long-term strategy for strengthening Australia’s agency in a contested Indo-Pacific, where undersea power matters more than ever. Undersea power is the national capacity to ...
    The Strategist by John Blaxland and Kate Rosengreen · Friday
  • The Weekly Hoon: Election climate policies compared; Living costs & hospital collapses (should) dominate NZ election debates
    Bernard Hickey & Peter Bale discuss the week in geopolitics and NZ’s political economy with regular guest Cathrine Dyer
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Friday
  • Our information revolution is outpacing our democratic institutions
    In 1997, I served in Bougainville as part of a military information support team, where rumours and an information vacuum threatened a fragile truce. Nearly three decades later, Australia’s digital information environment presents a strangely ...
    The Strategist by John Coyne · Thursday
  • Join us at 5pm for this week's Hoon
    Join Peter Bale & Bernard Hickey for the weekly 'Hoon' around news in geopolitics, climate, politics & more with Cathrine Dyer & Robert Patman
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Thursday
  • National is murdering our health system
    A tale in three headlines: Nursing workforce growth has stalled despite Government claims vacancies are falling, The Post, 28 July 2026: The number of nurses employed by Health New Zealand has barely changed in two years, despite the Government pointing to falling vacancy rates and an active recruitment drive to address workforce shortages. Analysis of Health NZ workforce data by health economists Bill Rosenberg and Jacqueline Cumming shows nursing numbers increased rapidly through 2023 and early 2024 but h
    No Right Turn by Idiot/Savant · Thursday
  • Not just immigrant numbers: the issue is also where Australia needs workers
    Has Australia spent so long arguing about migration that it has stopped considering what population is for? Australia is increasingly settling migration policy around an aggregate national number without an equally explicit strategy for the ...
    The Strategist by Anna Alexander · Thursday
  • 15 October 2026
    Today’s Union News is a little quiet on union coverage, however we’ve seen some interesting news in the election campaign with the Greens vowing to reverse National’s planned cuts to the public service and Luxon walking back his commitment to raise the minimum wage by the rate of inflation. Union coverage Employment The post 15 October 2026 appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Thursday
  • The Ryan Bridge Show
    Luxon improves, but Hipkins lands key blows.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · Thursday
  • Making Better Moves in Aotearoa
    This guest post by Kasey McDonnell first appeared on his site WellyClimateNerd, and is shared here with kind permission. I want to teleport you to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2075. Desolate pavement has been replaced with people everywhere. Children and people in wheelchairs are rolling along bike lanes.… The post Making Better Moves in Aotearoa appeared first on Greater Auckland.
    Greater Auckland by Guest Post · Thursday
  • 48% now feel they have to leave NZ to get ahead
    Survey finds 27% of NZers now struggling financially, up from 16.5% in 2020; Also, 48% believe they have to leave NZ to get ahead, up from 28%; National U-turns on parking for housing rules
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Thursday
  • Fault Lines – China’s Ukraine lessons, junta diplomacy, Fiji sanctions
    Welcome to the latest edition of ASPI’s Fault Lines. Every fortnight, ASPI’s Defence Strategy Program monitors the actions and developments shaping the regional order and Australia’s security. This edition covers the period from 2 October to 15 October ...
    The Strategist by ASPI Defence Strategy Staff · Thursday
  • Picks n’ Mixes & In the Papers for Thursday Oct 15
    Survey finds 27% of NZers now struggling financially, up from 16.5% in 2020; Also, 48% believe they have to leave NZ to get ahead, up from 28%; National U-turns on parking for housing rules
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Thursday
  • Expanding the military footprint: China’s new air base in Laos
    As China’s power and self-confidence grows, it’s becoming much more active in projecting power by establishing military bases abroad. The latest is at Ban Keun Airport near Vientiane, where China has established a joint support ...
    The Strategist by Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan · Wednesday
  • Vote Together Resources
    If you haven’t already, please register to Vote Together here. Poster Download and print out posters for your workplace. Voting Places on 28 October Here is all the voting places open on 28 October. Find the one closest to where you and your team will Vote Together. Note that some voting places aren’t open all… Read More »Vote Together Resources The post Vote Together Resources appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Jeremiah Boniface · Wednesday
  • Showing us their priorities
    When almost-Police Commission Jevon McSkimming was convicted of possession of child sexual abuse material and the IPCA found a concerted cover-up among senior police, the government's response was full of thunder. Police Minister Mark Mitchell called it "utterly disgraceful", and promised they were "acting decisively to install the strongest statutory oversight mechanism available to it – an Inspector-General of Police." You'd have expected that would result in quick action, but instead it resulted in... no
    No Right Turn by Idiot/Savant · Wednesday
  • Not there yet: Indonesia’s military has a space unit without a mandate or money
    Indonesia’s military has built the organisation needed to protect its interests in outer space, including monitoring its waters. But parliament has yet to operationalise this capability. Established in January 2026, Indonesia’s air force space unit ...
    The Strategist by Taufik Rachmat Nugraha and Arfin Sudirman · Wednesday
  • 14 October 2026
    Today’s Union News covers Erica Stanford’s attack on NZEI Te Riu Roa President Ripeka Lessels, more job cuts at Stuff, and strike action by Woolworths store managers. Union coverage Employment The post 14 October 2026 appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Wednesday
  • Treasury’s forecasts wrong on jobs & wealth effect
    Willis relying on Treasury forecast for 220,000 new jobs, but it has wrongly forecast jobs growth since 2024; Treasury somehow sees household & business investment growth without higher housing wealth
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Wednesday
  • The Real You
    TVNZ’s Multi Party debate.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · Wednesday
  • Who decided Auckland’s volcanic viewshafts?
    A couple of months ago, I went to the Auckland Library Heritage Collections in the City Centre, to read the original reports that led to the creation of Auckland’s volcanic viewshafts. For those unfamiliar with the phrase, these are slices of our urban environment where development is prohibited beyond a certain height (or at all), in order to protect certain views of the city’s dozens of iconic maunga.… The post Who decided Auckland’s volcanic viewshafts? appeared first on Greater Auckland.
    Greater Auckland by Connor Sharp · Wednesday
  • As force exposure becomes perilous, wars become long
    If it was ever safe to assume that wars would be quick and decisive, it is increasingly difficult to do so. In Ukraine, Iran and Gaza, attacking forces have struggled to achieve decisive outcomes, despite ...
    The Strategist by John D Pappas · Wednesday
  • Picks n’ Mixes & In the Papers for Wednesday Oct 14
    Opportunity the kingmaker at 8% in Verian poll; Peters trumps ministers on UN pandemic vote; Govt tells nursing schools to cut intake; Greens plan for 284,000 jobs; 1,000 applicants for 1 butcher role
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Wednesday
  • Only one in ten getting ahead under Luxon’s Government
    Just one in ten Kiwis say their household is getting ahead since the 2023 election, according to research commissioned by the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi. The Talbot Mills Research survey found 43 percent of New Zealanders say their household finances have fallen behind since 2023. Only 10 percent say they… Read More »Only one in ten getting ahead under Luxon’s Government The post Only one in ten getting ahead under Luxon’s Government appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Tuesday
  • ASPI’s Critical Technology Tracker expands to include patent data
    ASPI has expanded its globally recognised Critical Technology Tracker to include a new patent-analysis capability, introducing patent-based rankings across more than 20 of the 74 critical technologies tracked. Developed by ASPI’s Cyber, Technology and Security ...
    The Strategist by ASPI staff · Tuesday
  • In nuclear diplomacy, Australia can work bilaterally, too – especially with India
    The time is right for Australia to reconsider its long-held position of prosecuting nuclear non-proliferation primarily or solely through global treaties, particularly the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). That means complementing Australia’s work through global treaties ...
    The Strategist by Jane Hardy · Tuesday
  • 13 October 2026
    More job cuts at Stuff as well as proposed cuts at the new MCERT mega ministry all feature in today’s Union News. Sandra will be interviewed by Radio Waatea in their post-minor election leaders’ debate tonight at approximately 8:30 alongside Teanau Tuiono, David Cunliffe, Quilae Wong, Professor Wayne Hope, Matthew Tukaki and Dr Harpreet Singh. Union… Read More »13 October 2026 The post 13 October 2026 appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Tuesday
  • Love of the Common People
    Chris Hipkins, the leader that Aotearoa needs.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · Tuesday
  • National & Labour fiscal plans lock in stagnation
    National & Labour plan sinking lids on non-NZ Super spending to cut size of Govt to under 30% of GDP from 32%; Both need households to spend & borrow more to replace the 2% cut, but it can’t be done.
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Tuesday
  • The US needs its own grey-zone tactics in the South China Sea
    Passive resistance to Beijing’s actions in the South China Sea is not working. If the United States wants to win in the region, it needs a grey-zone strategy of its own. Beijing has spent a decade ...
    The Strategist by William Price · Tuesday
  • Picks n’ Mixes & In the Papers for Tuesday Oct 13
    National’s fiscal plan locks in smaller Government, just as Labour’s does; Peters rules out pensions accord, as does Hipkins; QV reports more house wealth falls; Crowded EDs breach privacy - watchdog
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Tuesday
  • Australia can import AI models, but they may bring their baggage
    Anyone who thinks Australia can achieve full sovereignty in artificial intelligence is dreaming. Modern AI sits on layer after layer of dependency: chips, fabrication equipment, cloud infrastructure, energy, software, data, talent and model development. For ...
    The Strategist by Fergus Ryan and Alex Colville · Monday
  • 12 October 2026
    New Zealand First’s policy announcements around workers’ issues including minimum wage and in-work tax credits are the biggest stories featuring in today’s Union News. Union coverage Employment The post 12 October 2026 appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Monday
  • Women, Peace and Security has an influence problem
    The future of the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda will not be determined by how many women are present in security institutions. It will be determined by whether those institutions are willing to create ...
    The Strategist by Jen Wittwer · Monday
  • Greens’ youth jobs guarantee is the action young workers need
    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi welcomes the Green Party’s Youth Jobs Guarantee, which would give every 16- to 24-year-old who has been out of work for six months a pathway into a local job. “Young people are being locked out of work at one of the most important stages of… Read More »Greens’ youth jobs guarantee is the action young workers need The post Greens’ youth jobs guarantee is the action young workers need appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · Monday
  • TOP betrays its supporters
    TOP - now the Opportunity Party - was founded for one purpose: to promote a radical shift in Aotearoa's tax system, from taxing income to taxing land. The right hate the idea, saying it will lower house prices (boo hoo) and drive farmers out of business (showing they were shit at business to begin with). Chris Luxon had ruled out any coalition with the party because they promoted it. And in the face of this pressure, TOP has surrendered and complied in advance - first leaving tax reform off its list of coal
    No Right Turn by Idiot/Savant · Monday
  • Opportunity appears to give up on tax reform
    Quilae Wong says considering ruling out tax reform to tempt Luxon into Govt-forming talks & ‘unrealistic’ to expect reform in 2026-2029; Labour’s fiscal shackle rules out real change from other side
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Monday
  • Conducting the national orchestra to achieve resilience and security
    Australia has spent several years rediscovering the importance of sovereign capability, resilience and economic security. The harder task now is implementation. Governments understand that strategic competition, coercion and concentrated supply chains can turn economic dependencies ...
    The Strategist by John Coyne · Monday
  • Sorting event transport at Kingsland
    It feels like the media have been waiting for a ‘City Rail Link failure’ story – and this weekend they finally got one, kind of, as the weekend saw another big event and another challenge with post-match event trains. Auckland Transport and Eden Park are blaming each other for the issues, as 1News reports: Frustrated rugby fans booed passing trains at Eden Park last night as delays to city-bound services left thousands queuing after the All Blacks thrashed the Wallabies.… The post Sorting event transport at
    Greater Auckland by Matt L · Monday
  • Picks n’ Mixes & In the Papers for Monday Oct 12
    Willis & Edmonds agree cross-party accord on pensions, but with caveats; ACT wants big disability cuts; Greens propose youth jobs guarantee; National to make Year 11 compulsory
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · Monday
  • Mister Jones
    Champion of Bottom Trawling, Conservation Mining, and Immigration Capping.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · 11 October 2026
  • Televised Executions
    The US continues its descent away from decency.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · 10 October 2026
  • Twenty-five years on: what Australia gave Afghanistan, and what it still owes
    On 14 September 2001, Prime Minister John Howard announced that Australia would invoke the ANZUS Treaty. On 11 October, Australia established Operation Slipper, its first operation in Afghanistan. By early December, the first Australian special ...
    The Strategist by Sami Omari · 9 October 2026
  • If Chinese AI goes rogue, expect opacity
    We now know that Chinese AI agents are inclined to cheat just as US models are. The big difference is that if one causes a cybersecurity incident, the ways we would find out are much ...
    The Strategist by Alex Colville · 9 October 2026
  • 9 October 2026
    The deterioration of our health system features again in today’s Union News with an article summing up demand for hospitals across the motu. Stuff do an in-depth analysis on the employment situation in Northland. Union coverage Employment The post 9 October 2026 appeared first on NZCTU.
    NZCTU by Aaron · 9 October 2026
  • Comfortably Numb
    National resorts to bashing beneficiaries.
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · 9 October 2026
  • Not like the old days: modern sea control will be episodic and local
    A new combination of surveillance, drones and precision strike is eroding the old assumption that navies could generate sea control through superior ships, vessels, aircraft and operational skills alone. Geography still matters, but the new ...
    The Strategist by Sean Andrews · 9 October 2026
  • Weekly Roundup 9-October-2026
    Kia ora and welcome to our regular roundup of stories that caught our eye this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday, we took some time to analyse the election campaign transport announcements… …and on Tuesday, we editorialised about what the recent campaign announcements mean for Auckland On Wednesday, we ran a guest post book review by George Weeks, about rethinking parking… …and on Thursday, we ran a throwback post from 2018, about rethinking Mill Road.… The post Weekly Roundup 9-October-2026 app
    Greater Auckland by Greater Auckland · 9 October 2026
  • The Weekly Hoon: National & Labour budget tracks near identical; Climate distrust; Foreign aid cuts
    Bernard Hickey & Peter Bale discuss the week in geopolitics and NZ’s political economy with regular guests Cathrine Dyer and Robert Patman
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · 9 October 2026
  • The Literary Traditions Underpinning The Silmarillion
    Benjamin Bassett (the gentleman behind the Reading Tolkien Podcast/YouTube channel) has raised an interesting question: what the hell is Tolkien’s Silmarillion, in terms of literary tradition? Bassett correctly notes that it cannot be described as either a novel or a short story, but rather as a peculiar chronicle, and further cites Olaf Stapledon’s Star Maker […]
    A Phuulish Fellow by strda221 · 9 October 2026
  • New US air-to-air missiles will finally overthrow China’s range advantage
    With a clutch of new long-range air-to-air missiles (LRAAMs) with ranges of 300 km or more, US forces could dramatically shift the aerial balance of power over the Western Pacific. Travelling at least twice as ...
    The Strategist by David Axe · 8 October 2026
  • Australia is building green industries. Defence could make them strategic
    Australia is spending billions to build green industries while Defence is trying to make the Australian Defence Force harder to disrupt. These efforts should reinforce each other. Future Made in Australia, the government’s clean-industry agenda, ...
    The Strategist by Simran Keshwani · 8 October 2026
  • When everyone is an ‘analyst’, expertise loses meaning
    Australia has developed a growing class of self-declared geopolitical analysts and independent researchers who built their reputations not through research, experience or sustained analytical work but through podcasts, social media feeds and confident commentary. Platforms ...
    The Strategist by John Coyne · 8 October 2026
  • Throwback Thursday: Rethinking the Mill Road Corridor
    With Mill Road back in the news, as a campaign headline from the National Party (see our Tuesday coverage), it’s the perfect time for a look back at our previous coverage of this overscaled project. The post below, by Harriet Gale, first ran in February 2018, and attracted vigorous discussion, with over a hundred comments.… The post Throwback Thursday: Rethinking the Mill Road Corridor appeared first on Greater Auckland.
    Greater Auckland by Greater Auckland · 8 October 2026
  • When I’m a Billionaire
    Forget the quarter-acre paradise; is this the new Kiwi dream?
    Nick's Kōrero by Nick Rockel · 8 October 2026
  • Bookshelf: The closing of the Russian mind (doesn’t bode well for the future)
    Bogged down militarily in Ukraine, with Russia’s economy in a shambles and Ukrainian drones penetrating ever deeper into the heartland and causing popular unrest, President Vladimir Putin’s position is looking increasingly tenuous. In anticipation of ...
    The Strategist by Robert Wihtol · 8 October 2026
  • KiwiStack Live Election Mini-Hoon with Elliot Crossan
    A recording from Bernard Hickey's live video chat with Elliot Cross on fiscal policy options in Election 2026
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · 8 October 2026
  • Labour’s sinking-lid fiscal strategy has consequences
    Labour admits will take benefits off teenagers too as its sinking-lid fiscal track to 30.4% of GDP forces similar cuts to National; Thomas Coughlan warns of first-ever, one-term National Govt
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · 8 October 2026
  • As allies’ capabilities grow, they need to work with US on nuclear signalling
    The Indo-Pacific’s next deterrence problem may be a shortage not of military capability but of coordination. As Australia, Japan and South Korea acquire long-range strike, missile defence and other strategic conventional capabilities, they are increasingly ...
    The Strategist by Benjamin Zala · 7 October 2026
  • National’s small business plan: 47 band-aids and an attack on workers’ rights
    National’s 47-point small business plan is mostly minor tweaks, re-announcements and overdue housekeeping – but tucked inside it is an attack on working people’s right to bargain collectively, says the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi (NZCTU). “For all the talk of backing small business, the most significant thing in this plan… Read More »National’s small business plan: 47 band-aids and an attack on workers’ rights The post National’s small business plan: 47 band-aids and an attack on wo
    NZCTU by Aaron · 7 October 2026
  • Election-rigging violates the BORA
    Last year the regime attempted to rig the election, overturning 77 years of settled law to cut off enrolment two weeks before the vote, in a desperate effort to stop 100,000 mostly young, mostly opposition supporting people from voting. It was naked American-style election-rigging, of a sort not seen before in Aotearoa, and even at the time the Attorney-General said that it violated the bill of Rights Act, because it overturned longstanding expectations around enrolment. And now, the regime has formally adm
    No Right Turn by Idiot/Savant · 7 October 2026
  • To face AI intrusion, counting legacy systems will be easy. Fixing them won’t
    The Department of Home Affairs has made an important start. In response to an OpenAI agent reaching non-public files on a decades-old Medicare Statistics portal, last week it issued a direction that required agencies to ...
    The Strategist by Rajiv Shah · 7 October 2026
  • Book Review: Rethinking Parking
    Today’s guest post is a book review by George Weeks, of Rethinking Parking: Planning and Urban Design Perspectives by Dr David Mepham. George Weeks is a transport adviser, planner and urban designer based in Auckland. An earlier version of this review originally appeared in Roundabout Magazine, the newsletter of the Transportation Group NZ.… The post Book Review: Rethinking Parking appeared first on Greater Auckland.
    Greater Auckland by Guest Post · 7 October 2026
  • Australia’s Middle East priority should be working with those that can counter Iran
    Australia needs a more active and hardheaded approach towards the Middle East to deal with ongoing conflicts stemming from or worsened by the attack against Israel three years ago today by Hamas and other Iran-backed terrorist ...
    The Strategist by Alex Bristow · 7 October 2026
  • Polls & debate judges put Labour ahead, but weakly
    RNZ-Reid Research, 1News-Verian & Roy Morgan polls show Labour mostly ahead of National, but both below or barely at 30%; Momentum with Greens at 15% & Opportunity over 5%; Hipkins seen winning debate
    The Kaka by Bernard Hickey · 7 October 2026
  • Te Pāti Māori launches Mana Takatāpui Policy
    ×Te Pāti Māori has today launched its Mana Takatāpui Policy, committing $200 million over three years and establishing an independent, Takatāpui governed Commission with real authority over Takatāpui specific funding. Te Pāti Māori Co Leader Rawiri Waititi says the policy is built on a simple principle: Nothing about Takatāpui without Takatāpui. “For too long, decisions have been made about Takatāpui without Takatāpui. Our policy changes who holds the power,” Waititi said.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 23 September 2026
  • We Want Cheaper Power And We Want Our People To Own It.
    ×Te Pāti Māori has today announced its Energy Sovereignty policy, a plan to cut power costs, build Aotearoa’s energy future and shift ownership into the hands of whānau, hapū, iwi and communities. “Every party is talking about generating more electricity. We’re asking the question they keep avoiding: who will own it?” said Te Pāti Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi “If we replace fossil fuels with renewables but leave ownership and profits concentrated in the same hands, we haven’t transformed the system. We’ve just c
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 16 September 2026
  • GOVERNMENT'S LAST ACT IS ANOTHER ATTACK ON TE TIRITI
    ×In its final days, this Government is trying to strip Te Tiriti from our laws. Three Treaty-related Bills before Parliament would weaken Te Tiriti protections and reduce Crown accountability. Te Pāti Māori opposes every one of them. Instead, Te Pāti Māori are calling for Te Tiriti to be protected through enforceable Crown obligations that no Government can simply discard.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 15 September 2026
  • TE PĀTI MĀORI LAUNCHES TE TIRITI ENTRENCHMENT POLICY
    ×Te Pāti Māori has today launched its Te Tiriti Entrenchment Policy, a major constitutional reform package that will make Crown obligations arising from Te Tiriti legally enforceable and resource the next stage of Māori-led constitutional transformation. “Te Tiriti is the constitutional foundation of Aotearoa. Its mana does not rise and fall depending on who forms the Government,” Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi said. “Our policy is about certainty, accountability and making sure the Crown keeps its p
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 1 September 2026
  • MP for Hauraki-Waikato Hana-Rawhiti Calls on Govt to Honour its Commitments to Waikato and Waipaa Awa
    ×Hauraki-Waikato MP Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke says the Government’s decision to delay key provisions of Plan Change 1, which sets rules to protect and restore the health of the Waikato and Waipaa awa, puts 3-yearly electoral interests ahead of its obligations to iwi and the environment. “This is bigger than a plan or a process. It is about whether the Crown will keep its word to Waikato-Tainui and honour the commitments it made – and written into legislation” says Maipi-Clarke. “The power of Te Ture Whaimana
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 24 August 2026
  • Luxon chose culture wars while basic services failed
    ×Christopher Luxon has spent too much of his term legislating culture wars while the basic services New Zealanders rely on have been allowed to deteriorate, Te Pāti Māori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says. “The Prime Minister had a finite term to govern. He chose to spend an extraordinary amount of it undoing Māori rights and weakening Crown obligations while the services New Zealanders depend on were deteriorating,” Ngarewa-Packer said. “He found the time to mobilise 13 government agencies to trawl throu
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 18 August 2026
  • Luxon survives today, but he will not survive November 7
    ×Today’s National Party caucus meeting may have saved Christopher Luxon’s job, but it has not solved National’s deeper problem. This government is consumed by its own survival while whānau are left to carry the cost. For days, New Zealanders have watched a governing party turn inward while families face rising costs, job losses and an economy going backwards. “Luxon may have kept the job, but National has lost the country’s confidence,” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 12 August 2026
  • Oriini Kaipara MP extends aroha following fatal workplace incident in Ōtāhuhu
    ×Oriini Kaipara, MP for Tāmaki Makaurau, extends her deepest condolences to the whānau, friends and work colleagues of the worker who tragically lost their life at the Auckland Meat Processors facility on Portage Road, Ōtāhuhu. "Our thoughts are first and foremost with the whānau who are now navigating an unimaginable loss. No one should leave for work and not return home to their loved ones." Following notification of the incident, Oriini's office has been actively seeking information to better understand t
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 7 August 2026
  • Te Pati Maori will make the Waitangi Tribunal recommendations binding
    ×Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Rawiri Waititi says New Zealand First's call to review the Waitangi Tribunal proves the coalition has learnt nothing from the Tribunal's latest report. "The Waitangi Tribunal has found that the Government's Treaty clause review is a major breach of Te Tiriti. Instead of fixing the breach, Shane Jones wants to investigate the institution that exposed it." Waititi says this is about far more than constitutional law.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 6 August 2026
  • Government’s patriarchal noise cannot hide cervical-screening failure
    ×While this Government and its allies manufacture patriarchal noise and drag public debate into personal attacks, a serious health-system failure involving nearly one million cervical screening notifications demands urgent answers. Health New Zealand says there is “no indication of harm”, but the Government has produced no evidence that proves nobody missed screening, follow-up care or an earlier diagnosis.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 5 August 2026
  • Government rips up another promise of partnership with Māori
    ×Te Pāti Māori Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the Government’s reported decision to scrap existing Mana Whakahono ā Rohe agreements is not planning reform it’s another deliberate step in dismantling the Crown’s relationship with tangata whenua. “This Government isn’t just rewriting planning law. It is rewriting the place of Māori in Aotearoa.” “One law at a time, one institution at a time, one agreement at a time, they are removing the practical ways Te Tiriti is honoured.”
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 21 July 2026
  • MFAT Must Act Urgently to Free Everlee Wihongi After Another Delayed Hearing
    ×Everlee Wihongi was set to appear in court today to be freed from ICE detention. Unfortunately, approximately 80 minutes before it was scheduled to begin, the Immigration Court decided to postpone the hearing until June 30, 2026. ICE has no reason to continue to detain Everlee after the conviction that formed the basis of the immigration case was successfully overturned. Everlee has now been detained for over two months, and this is just the latest in a long line of unnecessary delays. “Our aroha goes out t
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 18 June 2026
  • Te Pāti Māori Announces Lisa Marie Murch as Te Tai Tonga Candidate for 2026
    ×Te Pāti Māori is proud to announce Lisa Marie Murch as its candidate for Te Tai Tonga in the 2026 General Election. Born and raised in Murihiku, Lisa brings lived experience, education, service, and a deep commitment to whānau Māori across Te Waipounamu. A young Māori mother at sixteen, Lisa knows firsthand the realities many whānau face. Her journey from cleaning and baking, to becoming a head baker, bilingual primary teacher, kaupapa Māori educator, and specialist across Murihiku and Ōtepoti schools, is g
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 15 June 2026
  • Government Hid Its Own Evidence on LNG
    ×Te Pāti Māori is calling on the Government to release all remaining redacted advice on the proposed Taranaki LNG import terminal and halt the contract process until full public disclosure has occurred. This week RNZ revealed that officials redacted modelling commissioned by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment showing low need for LNG imports. In some scenarios, no need at all. That information was only made public after RNZ lodged a complaint with the Ombudsman. Parts of the document remain
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 11 June 2026
  • Seymour Admits He Never Checked Impact on Māori with Diabetes
    ×David Seymour Associate Minister of Health confirmed in answers to Written Parliamentary Questions that he supported removing Māori and Pacific priority access to Type 2 diabetes medicines, without any equity analysis, without modelling of Māori complications, and holds no data on how many Māori currently rely on the pathway they're removing. Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said the admissions were negligible. "They don't know who they're harming. They don't know how many Māori with diabetes r
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 10 June 2026
  • If The Government Really Wants To Lower Power Bills, This Is The Way
    ×Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer says the government’s LNG announcement today exposes a fundamental failure of energy policy leadership. “Simeon Brown says he has an answer to our energy security problem. A billion-dollar contract to import liquefied natural gas. From the Middle East. With no plan to pay for it. That’s not energy security, that’s energy dependency,” says Ngarewa-Packer. “Initially the government planned a levy on power bills to fund this facility. Now they want the same gentail
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 9 June 2026
  • Govt will Erase Iwi Representation Across Aotearoa
    ×Today the government announced that they will be removing the voting rights of iwi representatives from all councils across the country. They will be amending the Local Government (System Improvements) Bill after it has already gone through select committee, meaning that there will be no public submission process. “This is another gut punch, and our people are fed up” said Te Pāti Māori Co-Leader, Rawiri Waititi. “Every time we think this government couldn’t possibly harm te iwi Māori any more, they always
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 2 June 2026
  • TPM to Entrench Te Tiriti: Government’s Tiriti Purge is Constitutional Vandalism
    ×Te Pāti Māori is condemning today’s announcement by Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith to strip or weaken Te Tiriti o Waitangi references across 19 pieces of legislation. “This is not policy reform. It is constitutional vandalism.” After failing to redefine Te Tiriti through the Treaty Principles Bill, the Government is now dismantling it clause by clause through legislative review instead. Different vehicle. Same destination.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 15 May 2026
  • Te Pāti Māori responds to announcement of new political party
    ×Te Pāti Māori acknowledges Mariameno Kapa-Kingi’s announcement that she intends to contest the 2026 General Election under the newly announced Te Tai Tokerau Party. We wish Mariameno well. Te ao Māori has always carried many voices, many rohe, many whakapapa, and many expressions of mana motuhake. We respect the right of whānau, hapū, iwi, rohe and candidates to determine their own political pathway.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 11 May 2026
  • MP Govt Floats Nuclear Jones Must Front Up
    ×Te Pāti Māori is demanding answers after Shane Jones casually floated nuclear fission in the House today. Co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said, “Aotearoa is not neutral on nuclear. We are proudly anti-nuclear. That position was fought for, defended, and embedded in who we are as a nation.” “Is this Government marching us away from our nuclear-free legacy? Because Aotearoa deserves to know,” said Debbie Ngarewa-Packer.
    Māori Party by Te Pāti Māori · 29 April 2026
  • KiwiRail to fund additional ferries works in Picton
    KiwiRail will directly fund up to $37.5 million for Picton rail yard upgrades and adding auto-mooring technology to the new wharf as part of the New Ferries project, Rail Minister Winston Peters announced today. “Selecting KiwiRail as the long-term operator of the Interislander has given the company confidence to invest its own funds in commercial assets, meaning the taxpayer is not paying a cent more than our $1.7 billion allocation but still achieves the benefit as the ultimate owner of KiwiRail,” Mr Pete
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • Resilience work underway for key South Island route
    Work to bolster the resilience of a key South Island route vital to New Zealand tourism will soon begin, South Island and Associate Transport Minister James Meager says. “The Government allocated around $40 million in Budget 2026 to fund resilience upgrades to State Highway 94 (SH94) between Te Anau and Milford, as part of a wider $150 million-plus package to strengthen five of the mainland’s most vulnerable state highways,” Mr Meager says. “There will soon be spades in the ground at key sites on SH94 in Fi
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • King’s Counsel appointments 2026
    Attorney-General Chris Bishop today announced the appointments of 12 King’s Counsel. The rank of King’s Counsel is primarily awarded to barristers sole who have met the overarching criteria of excellence in their careers. The 12 new King’s Counsel appointed, from over 100 applications, are Matanuku Mahuika, Karen Radich, Janette Campbell, Matthew Harris, Kirsten Gray, Tim Smith, Polly Pope, Kerry Cook, Sam Lowery, Rob Kirkness, Isaac Hikaka, and Annabel Maxwell-Scott. “The appointment of King’s Counsel reco
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • Levy reduction for cruise industry
    Cruise ship passengers will pay significantly lower Border Processing Levy rates from 1 July 2027, Customs Minister Casey Costello said today. From 1 July 2027, cruise passengers will see a net reduction of NZ$19.91 per person through the combined arrival and departure levy rate changes. The Border Processing Levy for arriving cruise passengers will lower from NZ$27.14 to NZ$7.20, while the levy for outgoing passengers will increase by three cents per person. “The levy system is working as intended. Where f
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • New construction ACOP to bring health and safety clarity
    Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden today launched a new Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) that outlines practical steps businesses and workers can take to meet their health and safety responsibilities on residential construction sites. “This ACOP will provide practical, sector-specific information to help clients, principal contractors, contractors, subcontractors and workers prepare for upcoming changes to health and safety law, and support better outcomes across New Zealand's residen
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • West Coast infrastructure upgrades on course
    Investment from the Regional Infrastructure Fund is delivering progress on key projects on the West Coast, Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson says. "Improvements to key shipping ports and the upgrade of Hokitika Airport are part of the government’s support for the West Coast’s economic growth and resilience,” Mr Patterson says. Mr Patterson joined local leaders and iwi today at the blessing of Greymouth Port's new port sounding vessel, which will be used to monitor and manage the port’s
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Friday
  • Hunua Quarry development fast-tracked
    A third substantial Auckland quarry project has gained Fast-track approval to expand operations, Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop and Resources Minister Shane Jones say. This is the 37th project approved through the Fast-track process. Winstone Aggregates lodged its application in March 2026, with approval taking around four months from the appointment of an independent expert panel. The redevelopment of Hunua Quarry will expand existing quarrying activities to allow Winstone Aggregates to deepen the ex
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Thursday
  • SH54 resilience improvements on the way
    A crash-prone bridge in Manawatū currently down to one lane is set to be replaced with funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Transport Minister Chris Bishop say. The project to replace Haynes Bridge on State Highway 54 will receive funding of $6.5 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund. Mr Jones says the investment in the new bridge on a key Manawatū-Whanganui route will deliver benefits for communities and businesses throughout the region. "Safe
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Thursday
  • New term, same story; attendance up again
    Provisional school attendance data for Term 3 2026 shows despite a tough flu season in person attendance rates were the highest of any Term 3 since 2022, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. In Term 3 2026, 52.2% of students met the criteria for regular attendance, representing a 1.7 percentage point increase from 50.5% in Term 3 2025. A student attends school ‘regularly’ when they are in class for more than 90 per cent of the term. “This data shows attendance rates continue to rise under this G
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Thursday
  • International tourism nears full recovery
    International visitor numbers are now within a whisker of pre-pandemic levels, with four months left to go in the year and the summer season yet to hit, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says. Stats NZ data out today shows the total number of overseas visitor arrivals in August 2026 was 99 per cent of the 251,100 in August 2019. “In 2025 I set the ambitious goal to increase the number of international visitors to New Zealand to at least 2019 levels by 2026. “This monthly data shows we are well
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Open ocean opportunities for iwi aquaculture
    The Government has set aside areas suitable for aquaculture to ensure Marlborough iwi have the opportunity to contribute to the region’s open ocean aquaculture boom, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. “The two Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) ensure suitable space in the region remains available while the Crown and Te Tau Ihu iwi negotiate a settlement under the Māori Commercial Aquaculture Claims Settlement Act,” Mr Jones says. “With the launch earlier this year of New Zealand’s first open
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Diesel reserve extended to maintain fuel security
    The Government has extended an agreement for a 550,000-barrel strategic diesel reserve until August 2027 to maintain New Zealand’s fuel resilience, Finance Minister Nicola Willis and Associate Energy Minister Shane Jones say. “Maintaining our national fuel security, particularly through a period of global uncertainty, remains a top priority for the Government. That’s why we’re pleased to announce this extension to our existing deal with Z Energy for the diesel reserve at Marsden Point,” Nicola Willis says.
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Survivor Support and Recognition Fund to open next year
    The Government has approved a third and final round of the Survivor Support and Recognition Fund (SSRF). The fund supports community-led services and initiatives for survivors of abuse and neglect in care This $820,000 contestable fund will be available to non-government organisations and community groups that directly support survivors of abuse in care,” says Lead Coordination Minister Erica Stanford. Applications are expected to open in February 2027. The Department of Internal Affairs' Community Operatio
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Long overdue replacement for critical bridge
    Another bridge on South Canterbury’s State Highway 82 will be replaced, through funding from the Regional Infrastructure Fund, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Transport Minister Chris Bishop say. The Deep Creek Bridge on SH82 will be replaced at a cost of $7.5 million. Elephant Hill Stream Bridge has already been replaced, and Waihao North Bridge is in the process of being replaced Deep Creek Bridge carries about 1850 vehicles each day and supports local journeys, agricultural activity and fre
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • It's all adding up: More maths gains for Kiwi kids
    New independent assessment results show primary and intermediate students made the equivalent of four months' additional progress in mathematics between 2024 and 2026, signalling a turnaround in achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. The latest Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) data, released today by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), show statistically significant improvements in mathematics and reading comprehension and vocabulary. “Our number one priority in educati
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Wednesday
  • Auckland gets another Crisis Recovery Café
    People in Auckland in need of mental health or addiction support will have another place to turn for faster access to support, with a new peer-led Crisis Recovery Café officially opening in Mt Eden, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey says. “Emergency departments aren’t always the best environment for someone experiencing mental distress. They can be busy, brightly lit and feel far too clinical, when often what someone needs is a calm place to sit down and talk to someone who understands. “That’s why we are
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Tuesday
  • Damning report shows Teaching Council failed to protect children
    A damning new independent review has revealed how repeated failures by the Teaching Council allowed a teacher with a known history of offending to remain in the profession before he went on to commit indecent acts against children, Minister of Education Erica Stanford says. The independent regulatory review undertaken by Katherine Anderson KC follows the equally damning 2025 Debbie Francis review, which exposed a deeply concerning culture within the Teaching Council. “First and foremost, my thoughts are wit
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Tuesday
  • New ward boosts capacity at Hawke’s Bay Hospital
    Hawke’s Bay patients will benefit from faster access to surgical care with the opening of a new 28-bed ward at Hawke’s Bay Hospital, Health Minister Simeon Brown says. “This new ward is a practical solution to meet growing demand, delivering the extra capacity Hawke’s Bay Hospital needs right now and making a real difference for both patients and staff,” Mr Brown says. “It gives surgical patients dedicated space before and after their procedures, along with space for surgical assessment and planning. That m
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Monday
  • First state school converts to a charter school
    Associate Education Minister David Seymour has today announced that Pakaraka School in Northland has become the first state school to convert to a charter school. “Charter schools give educators more freedom to provide students with an education that suits their needs,” Mr Seymour says. “The Pakaraka community has chosen a new path for its school. They want to be able to build on what is already working for its students, and the charter school model enables them to do that. “In 2024 the school partnered wit
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Monday
  • Government ambitious for every child’s education
    Thank you, Prime Minister. Over the past three years, we have been focused on one overriding objective: lifting educational achievement for every young New Zealander. And a huge part of that has been closing the equity gap, ensuring that your means do not determine your destiny by providing a world-leading education for every young person in our schools. Because we are ambitious for every child in this country. A world-leading education system starts with ensuring every child learns to read, write and do ma
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · Monday
  • Additional domestic student places for veterinary science at Massey University
    “An increase in the number of funded domestic places in Massey University’s Bachelor of Veterinary Science programme from 125 to 140 per year from 2027 onwards will help address demand for veterinarians in the future,” says Minister for Tertiary Education Penny Simmonds. Minister Simmonds made the announcement during her visit to the university’s Palmerston North campus on Friday, 9 October. “The veterinary workforce plays a key role in our biosecurity, animal welfare, food safety, and export industry. Incr
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • District Court Judges Appointed
    Attorney-General Hon Chris Bishop has announced the appointment of Leighvi Maynard of Gisborne and Nicola Graham of Napier as District Court Judges. Mr Maynard began his legal career at Simpson Grierson in Auckland, where he was a member of the firm’s Environment, Planning and Resource Management team. In 2006 he moved to Gisborne and entered general practice, working across civil, employment, Māori land, family and criminal law jurisdictions before joining the Office of the Crown Solicitor for Rotorua, Tau
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Simpler food safety, stronger focus on risk
    The Government is proposing changes to make it easier for food businesses to meet their food safety obligations, with less paperwork and a sharper focus on the risks that matter, Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard says. Consultation opened today on an updated Simply Safe & Suitable food control plan template. This is New Zealand's main food control template: a pre-approved, plain-language checklist that tells businesses what steps to follow and what records to keep so their food stays safe. "Businesses hav
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Food and fibre exports hit record $65.2 billion
    Food and fibre exports reached a record $65.2 billion in the year to 30 June 2026, up $4.8 billion on the year before, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay says. "Kiwi farmers and growers keep delivering for the New Zealand economy," Mr McClay says. "This year was already on track to be a record. Their hard work has delivered a result that beats expectations." Exports are up 8 per cent on the previous year and ahead of the Ministry for Primary Industries' June forecast of $64.3 billion. "It's a gre
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Investigation into Apollo Stadium site planning rules
    An investigation has been launched into whether Christchurch planning rules are getting in the way of new housing, economic growth and the future redevelopment of the former Apollo Projects Stadium site, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. The investigation follows a request from Christchurch City Council Mayor Phil Mauger to consider changes to the Christchurch District Plan for the 4.93-hectare site at 95 Jack Hinton Drive in Addington. “The temporary Apollo Stadium has served Christchurch well. Now th
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 9 October 2026
  • Four more school redevelopments get the green light
    The Government is investing a further $37 million to redevelop four schools, taking investment in school redevelopment projects approved this year to more than $200 million, Education Minister Erica Stanford says. “When we came into Government, school property was a mess. Around 350 projects could not be delivered within the funding available, schools had been waiting years for certainty, and classrooms were costing around $1.2 million each. “We said we would fix it, and that is exactly what we have been do
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • Next steps in fight against organised crime
    The new Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (TSOC) Chief Executive Board has met for the first time today, Associate Police Minister Casey Costello has announced. “We need better organised government to fight organised crime, and the Board will help deliver that,” Ms Costello says. “The Government has made a series of decisions to improve our response to TSOC, including appointing a Ministerial Advisory Group (MAG), and putting in place a new TSOC strategy and Action Plan. A key recommendation of the
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • More Kiwis choosing teaching
    More New Zealanders are choosing to become teachers, with initial teacher education enrolments up 40 per cent since 2023. Education Minister Erica Stanford says the increase shows more Kiwis want to be part of New Zealand’s teaching workforce. “We’ve had a real focus on getting more New Zealanders into teaching so we can grow our own workforce and reduce our reliance on recruiting teachers from overseas. “Overseas-trained teachers make an important contribution to our schools, and we will continue to need t
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • RMA national direction reforms complete
    The Government has completed the biggest overhaul of national direction in the history of the Resource Management Act – with the final changes making it faster, easier and more affordable to build and upgrade New Zealand’s electricity and telecommunications networks, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop says. “Over the past two years the Government has developed or amended 16 national direction instruments to remove unnecessary barriers to housing, infrastructure, energy and the primary sector,” Mr Bishop says.
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026
  • Government cracks down on rockpool vandals
    Major fishing rule changes will come into force this summer to stop people from stripping rockpools of marine life on the Auckland and Coromandel coastlines, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones and Under-Secretary Jenny Marcroft say. “Fossicking in a rockpool is a Kiwi tradition. It’s a pastime that’s been enjoyed by generations of New Zealanders. However, it’s being exploited by a selfish few who are taking far too much kaimoana. This behaviour is endangering these fragile ecosystems and putting at r
    Beehive by beehive.govt.nz · 8 October 2026

No articles found.

© 2026 The Standard. All rights reserved.

The Standard - Independent commentary on politics, media, and current affairs in New Zealand.