The rise of Winston follows the rise of Pauline Hansen and Nigel Farage
Ten months to go and there is no political party currently countering the sustained rise of New Zealand First.
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Management speech mumbo jumbo
Christopher Luxon’s latest State of the Nation speech suggests that over summer he has been spending more on his Spotify summer list than he should have.
MCERT V MAF V MBIE V Treasury
The merger of many functions of the central public sector concerned with cities, the environment, housing and urban development, and transport, was announced in the week before Christmas and is now underway. There’s plenty of good on the face of it.
Some random predictions for 2026 …
What will election year 2026 bring to Aotearoa?
Politician of the year?
Chris Bishop is thought by some to be the politician of the year, mainly for drafting a couple of bills plaigarised from the work of David Parker and untested promises to build hugely expensive roads of National significance. But they are ignoring the most extraordinary performance by an opposition leader in recent decades.
Peters spits the dummy over India Free Trade deal
“National preferred doing a quick, low-quality deal over doing the hard work necessary to get a fair deal that delivers for both New Zealanders and Indians.”
Good work if you can get it
National’s Ministerial Retail Advisory Group leader Sunny Kaushall has hit the headlines for huge catering costs inluding paying $9 for bottles of coke worth $5.50. But the deeper story should be why his activity, which is clearly political in nature, being funded by a fund set aside for victims.
Holy feck
The last poll of the political year and it is a doozie. Labour is 8 points ahead of National.
Accelerating climate change under urgency
The Government is legislating to halve methane emission reduction targets and remove the requirement for the ETS to accord with Paris Accord obligations. And intends to pass these changes under urgency despite there being no requirement to do so.
“National is Getting NZ Back on Track”?
That’s the headline of the pamphlet in the letterbox. But from their own measures is that true?
Why the next election will not be easy for Labour
This may be a one term National Government. But electoral law reform, the state of Labour’s coalition partners, a possible economic upturn and a change in National’s leader threaten this.
The Government’s 59 policy changes that are destroying the country’s climate response
Count them and weep.
Is National planning to welch on Paris Climate obligations?
It appears to be more and more inevitable that National will welch on the country’s Paris Accord obligations.
He’s running
Christopher Luxon’s stint as Prime Minister is under serious threat. And despite his clear assertions to the contrary the rumour mill suggests that Chris Bishop is lining up for a tilt for the top job.
Why does National really hate EVs?
The Government has reversed the clean car standard and by doing this has ensured that the country’s car fleet will be less efficient and produce more greenhouse gasses.
76% of Kiwis rate National Coalition poor to neutral
Government hits a NEW low today after hitting a previous record low in February 2025
The Fast Track law is being made worse
Just over a year ago the Government passed a constitutional abomination of a law and is now trying to make it worse and do this quickly. What is going on?
Why Is National Allowing Trans Tasman Resources to Destroy our Common Good?
This government is deliberately enabling private seabed mining in Taranaki to prevent New Zealand’s largest future renewable electricity supply.
The tawdry silly argument in favour of selling assets
Winston Peters has criticised National’s proposal to campaign at the next election on asset sales in a way that makes you wonder how National and NZ First can survive in coalition.
Wrecking the country’s climate change response
If you thought that your contempt for the current administration had peaked let me disappoint you. This week they have taken steps to undermine the Climate Change Commission and the ability of the public to influence future emission reduction plans.
Let them eat Michelin Stars
The Government’s class prejudices are now on clear display. In the same week that news emerged that the Government is considering a ban on rough sleepers in major urban town centres further news emerged that it is subsidising Michelin to award Michelin stars to local restaurants.
Treaty what treaty?
The Government’s all out assault on te Tiriti o Waitangi continues. And this time supposed liberal Erica Sanford is engaged in the latest assault.
More RONS!
National has announced it will be spending nearly three times as much on Roads of National Significance as it campaigned on and has justified dubious investment decisions by changing how benefits are calculated.
Hayek’s Acolytes and History’s Judgement
While we should acknowledge Jim Bolger’s life of service to New Zealand we should also recognise the critical and continuing damage done to New Zealand by his government.
Government by the Farmers for the Farmers
In a move that further undermines the country’s response to the climate crisis the Government has halved the methane reduction goal and determined that farms will not pay a price for greenhouse gas emissions.
New Zealand’s latest tourism promo just dropped
“The Government of New Zild has made a new tourism ad and it’s surprisingly honest and informative!”
National Crashes in latest poll
National crashing into the 20s in the latest Couria Poll must have increased dramatically the prospects of Christopher Luxon being deposed as Prime Minister.
Luxon’s bad faith stunt
Christopher Luxon recently wrote to Chris Hipkins seeking a bipartisan approach to gas drilling but then immediately turned this into a farce by leaking the letter to the Herald.
On The Shameful, Incompetent Decision On Palestine
The last time New Zealand put itself on the wrong side of history was when a New Zealand rugby team toured apartheid South Africa just after schoolchildren were gunned down on the streets of Soweto.
Christopher Luxon: We’ve shown meaningful leadership on Palestine
Hipkins also declared his stance on Palestine recognition on the day, but it wasn’t widely reported.
National announces reversal of School Building Project cuts
In the hope that it can address the Construction Industry crisis National has announced a partial reversal of cuts made to school building project made earlier in its term.
So much for the relentless focus on growth
National’s crashing of GDP growth figures makes a mockery of its claim earlier this year that the Government was relentlessly focussed on unleashing growth.
Whanganui MP Carl Bates shielded 25 rentals from disclosure
Bates set up a family trust after the election, presumably to hide his rentals from disclosure.
Duncan Garner – National is f&*ked
A beehive leak has led Duncan Garner to form the firm conclusion that National is
f&*ked.
This trick of National could win them the 2026 election
US voter suppression tactics are back in vogue and National’s Coalition is bringing them to Aotearoa New Zealand
So, New Zealand First Then?
In 2026 New Zealand First in all likelihood will be back in power because Labour and National will need them to form government.