Abolishing New Zealand’s Regional Councils
The government on Tuesday announced plans to replace regional councillors with boards made up of mayors and maybe some minister-appointed representatives. It’s a mess.
Social issues
uncategorized
Some Number 8 Fencing Wire in Gaza
The importance of a New Zealand focus
on the rebuild of Gaza.
The attempted hostile takeover of Kelston Boys High School
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
The usual voices have publicly attacked Labour’s proposed Capital Gains Tax using arguments that do not stack up.
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.
New Zealand’s Willing Submission To The Pentagon’s Command And Control
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
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.
Fiscal Choices: Scandinavia or America?
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Joseph Mooney cosplays as alt-right hypocrite
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
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
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?
In 2026 New Zealand First in all likelihood will be back in power because Labour and National will need them to form government.
Adrian Orr Cover Up – A Quid Pro Quo?
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
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
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.
National Party wants to sell / exchange up to 67% of NZ’s conservation lands
National say they will “unleash growth”. That may be by selling / exchanging 5 million hectares of conservation land, much of it with “high ecological value” – representing 2/3 of the entire estate.
Confusing Confidence with Competence: Erica Stanford and the Bulldozing of Education Reform
NCEA wasn’t perfect, but it offered students a chance to grow and succeed in different ways. It recognised that learning isn’t linear or one-size-fits-all. It gave students a chance to find their place – not just in the job market, but in the world. Which brings me to the current Minister of Education, Erica Stanford… Are we confusing confidence with competence?
Corbyn still draws a crowd – what’s new?
Zarah Sultana for one – she’s a star. Gaza for another – anti-zionism/semitism won’t work this time. 500,000 signed up in a week for a new party is impressive.
Gerrymander alert – Government running scared
You know a government is in trouble when it has to resort to gerrymander to boost its prospects. The coalition government’s decision to restrict voter enrolment is disgraceful.
You Can’t Kill A Rainbow
The incongruence of transgender fear
Keith Locke Inaugural Memorial Debate – Live
View the inaugural Keith Locke Memorial Debate!
July 3, 2025 | Auckland Irish Club or via livestream
The moot? China is a threat to regional peace
Moderator: Simon Wilson
On the Affirmative Hon Dr Wayne Mapp, Dr Cam Calder, Andrew Dickens
On the Negative Trevor Johnston, Dr Marco de Jong, Dr Arama Rata
We Have a Human Right to Water, and to Democracy
National is rolling out comprehensive water corporatisation, across New Zealand. For those who don’t live in Auckland, Wellington, or other centres with commercialised […]
A different way of doing politics
Hopefully what we witnessed in Parliament this week will return a trend to the politics of kindness that Jacinda Ardern practised. And one holding respect for Te Ao Māori at its core.
Oceania: Journey to the Center and other Auckland events
A few things I will be heading to over the coming 5 days in Auckland. A documentary on climate change on pacific islands. Phil Goff on foreign affairs. And the Inaugural Keith Locke Memorial Debate. Moot is “China is a threat to regional peace”. I kind of got caught up in each of these for one reason or another…
SNAP ACTION – Stop U.S. Aggression
Snap action outside Ministry of Defence tomorrow 24th 1230. All welcome
The West’s War Against Iran
Clearly, the world needs to stop talking about Israel’s right to defend itself, and start talking about the world’s need to defend itself against Israel.
BHN special on the Regulatory Standards Bill
“…just days out from the close of submissions on this controversial Bill”
The West’s war on Iran
I have visited Iran twice. I loved my time in Iran and found wonderful, cultured and kind people.When I heard the news of Israel’s attack on Iran I was apoplectic with rage and disgust.
The other Jacinda Book
Shortly after the release of Jacinda Ardern’s autobiography comes news of the release of a new biography for which the funding of and motivation for are not clear.
The Thunberg dilemma
If the Madleen activism was largely symbolic, did it work?
Nicola Willis’s Debt Higher Than All 6 Years of Ardern Government
Current & planned debt will surpass Labour’s full term debt in less years. Willis also admitted Budget 2024 had a higher deficit than all of Grant Robertson’s bar Covid.
The Peoples’ Select Committee on Pay Equity
In very bad news for the Government former National MP Marilyn Waring has announced that she will be doing something the Government did not do, organise hearings to consider the Government’s sabotaging of Pay Equity.