The Standard

Social issues

Categories under Social issues

Some Number 8 Fencing Wire in Gaza

Written By: - Date published: 4:01 pm, November 7th, 2025 - 4 comments

The importance of a New Zealand focus
on the rebuild of Gaza.

Let them eat Michelin Stars

Written By: - Date published: 2:46 pm, November 7th, 2025 - 9 comments

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.

National’s Measles Gambit

Written By: - Date published: 10:51 pm, November 3rd, 2025 - 52 comments

As measles cases increase, National and ACT have chosen to come over the top of health officials and schools exercising caution.

Tend Health re-brands as Aratataki – A “Charity” – And Lobbied Simeon Brown

Written By: - Date published: 12:15 pm, November 2nd, 2025 - 90 comments

Cecilia Robinson and Chris Luxon

Ryan Bridges fawns over Tend’s Telehealth corporate model which is subsidised by taxpayers, rewards private equity investors, and costs about $80 per consult

The attempted hostile takeover of Kelston Boys High School

Written By: - Date published: 10:17 am, October 31st, 2025 - 24 comments

Individual State Schools face the prospect of hostile takeover by groups that may wish to change dramatically the way that the school is run. And Kelston Boys High School is a test case for how the process may work.

CGT – The Empire strikes back

Written By: - Date published: 10:06 am, October 30th, 2025 - 140 comments

The usual voices have publicly attacked Labour’s proposed Capital Gains Tax using arguments that do not stack up.

Labour Day: the working class and civil emergencies

Written By: - Date published: 6:06 am, October 27th, 2025 - 17 comments

On this Labour Day, a massive shout out to all the workers in Southland, Otago and other areas affected by the storms last week. Paid and volunteer, obvious and those in the background doing support for the frontline workers.

More RONS!

Written By: - Date published: 9:40 am, October 25th, 2025 - 23 comments

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.

Judith Collins’ Open Letter Is Dirty Politics

Written By: - Date published: 1:35 pm, October 19th, 2025 - 15 comments

The senior National Party Cabinet Minister has penned an “Open letter to the people of New Zealand” on the New Zealand Government’s official website

Simeon Brown threatens doctors as mega strike looms

Written By: - Date published: 10:37 am, October 19th, 2025 - 5 comments

An exodus of professionals are leaving – with Kiwi citizens fleeing at levels we haven’t seen in 24 years. These incl. community GPs, doctors & nurses – and Simeon is going after those that remain

New Zealand’s Willing Submission To The Pentagon’s Command And Control

Written By: - Date published: 9:02 pm, October 18th, 2025 - 23 comments

Our multi-billion billion spend-up on Defence has nothing to do with repelling a foreign invasion. It is all about being led by the US to join in attacking a target – China – located far from our shores.

Plunket declares war on the BSA

Written By: - Date published: 1:31 pm, October 16th, 2025 - 46 comments

Sean Plunket has threatened to sue the Broadcasting Standards Authority after it released a draft opinion suggesting that broadcasters using the internet should be subject to the same requirements as traditional broadcasters.

Crime Soars Under National

Written By: - Date published: 12:54 pm, October 16th, 2025 - 5 comments

Mitchell, Luxon and Goldsmith

Violent crime, sexual assaults and retail crime soar under National Party

Fiscal Choices: Scandinavia or America?

Written By: - Date published: 10:02 pm, October 14th, 2025 - 88 comments

Brian Easton says we cannot attain a sustainable Scandinavian-type quality of life while keeping the existing tax system in place

Do not feed the Droll

Written By: - Date published: 11:05 am, October 7th, 2025 - 57 comments

Martyn Bradbury’s attacks on Winston Peters and an attack on his home has allowed Winston to claim victimhood status and hog the media spotlight.

Voices for Freedom’s local government campaign

Written By: - Date published: 2:22 pm, October 4th, 2025 - 8 comments

Anti vax organisation Voices for Freedom has published a glossy well presented booklet suggesting how local body campaigns should be run. And it looks like a number of right wing campaigns are borrowing heavily from the information in the booklet.

Simeon Brown Cagey On Privatisation Meeting with Serco

Written By: - Date published: 11:07 am, October 1st, 2025 - 4 comments

Shane Reti and Simeon Brown

The British multinational meeting was first reported by ODT. Plus: Physician Associates spell more danger for the health of our health system

On The Shameful, Incompetent Decision On Palestine

Written By: - Date published: 7:04 pm, September 29th, 2025 - 4 comments

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.

The Government wants to cheat the next election result

Written By: - Date published: 8:00 am, September 28th, 2025 - 24 comments

Christopher Luxon is sticking to his lines that the proposed changes to the Electoral Law will speed up the result even though this will disenfranchise an estimated 55,000 kiwis and even though the Chief Electoral Officer has said that if properly resourced the changes will make no difference.

Kiwis are now dying in corridors & carparks

Written By: - Date published: 11:02 am, September 23rd, 2025 - 37 comments

Christchurch joins Nelson ED to sound the alarm as Code Red rages across NZ departments

National announces reversal of School Building Project cuts

Written By: - Date published: 9:42 am, September 23rd, 2025 - 7 comments

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.

Joseph Mooney cosplays as alt-right hypocrite

Written By: - Date published: 10:11 am, September 21st, 2025 - 100 comments

National MP for Southland Joseph Mooney has been trying to capitalise off the US culture, and using free speech to attack academic free speech

Taxpayers Union Running Interference In Local Council Elections

Written By: - Date published: 8:41 am, September 9th, 2025 - 59 comments

It’s been alleged that Taxpayers Union is involved in “bullying and intimidation” of local council candidates around the country.

Simeon Brown plays with Kiwi lives

Written By: - Date published: 5:55 pm, September 5th, 2025 - 6 comments

Perhaps the biggest news from a jam packed news week is how, under National’s Health Ministers Shane Reti & Simeon Brown, Health NZ illegally hid staffing data for over a year to conceal their systemic understaffing of our public health.

So, New Zealand First Then?

Written By: - Date published: 2:17 pm, September 4th, 2025 - 43 comments

In 2026 New Zealand First in all likelihood will be back in power because Labour and National will need them to form government.

Government to avoid proper scrutiny of plans to allow rich foreigners to buy mansions

Written By: - Date published: 8:36 am, September 3rd, 2025 - 27 comments

Remember Act’s Regulatory Standards Bill which would establish principles of responsible regulation and increase transparency? It appears that not all policy will be subject to these requirements. Especially if they affect rich foreigners buying local mansions.

Foreign Buyers Ban Reversal A Sell Out By Winston Peters & His Party

Written By: - Date published: 8:59 pm, September 1st, 2025 - 22 comments

NZ First’s legacy is now firmly NZ Last

Adrian Orr Cover Up – A Quid Pro Quo?

Written By: - Date published: 12:45 pm, September 1st, 2025 - 7 comments

Part 2 of the Adrian Orr / Neil Quigley cover up scandal. Nicola Willis knew and did not divulge the truth until the Ombudsman forced their hand last week.

Jones accuses Luxon of hiding

Written By: - Date published: 7:51 pm, August 31st, 2025 - 43 comments

Shane Jones has publicly attacked Prime Minister Christopher Luxon by accusing him of hiding. The chances of a snap election have just shot up.

Councils’ obligations to Māori

Written By: - Date published: 12:12 pm, August 30th, 2025 - 12 comments

Kaipara District Council has circulated throughout the country a Franks Ogilvie opinion suggesting that local government obligations to Māori are limited. But even a cursory review of the opinion suggests that it is flawed and should not be used to minimise respect for Māori.

Gaslighters of the world unite

Written By: - Date published: 12:57 pm, August 26th, 2025 - 24 comments

David Seymour has complained that New Zealand has “some of the most anemic governing arrangements in the world constitutionally” without acknowledging that his Goverment could change this.