Caleb Anderson: Binding Citizens Referenda - could this work?

Increasingly Western voters are losing confidence in the governments they elect, not in New Zealand alone.

Commitments made before elections are frequently ignored or traded, influencers seem to exert disproportionate leverage in shaping policy, while bureaucrats delay and obstruct, and politicians obfuscate.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: We've learned not to underestimate Barbara Edmonds

Okay, so we’ve had the first little parry of the election campaign, with Nicola Willis calling a news conference to accuse Labour of numbers that don’t add up, and then Barbara Edmonds responding.

I’m going to call this - by the slimmest of margins - for Edmonds. I think she actually won this exchange purely by holding her ground, sounding confident and pointing out that she doesn’t actually have to have public numbers that add up just yet.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 14.6.26

Tuesday June 16, 2026 

News:
First meeting for new Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Forum
The first meeting of the new Waitākere Ranges Heritage Area Forum brought together representatives of Auckland Council, the Department of Conservation and the wider community to discuss the future care and protection of Te Wao Nui ā Tiriwa – the Waitākere Ranges.

The event at Arataki Visitor Centre opened with kōrero from Te Kawerau ā Maki, grounding the Forum in the mana, tikanga, identity and enduring connection of the iwi to Te Wao Nui ā Tiriwa.

Pee Kay: Consultants or Extortionists?

Last week, one of my mailing group emailed me about claims that a Tauranga iwi is allegedly demanding $45 million to withdraw objections to the Port of Tauranga’s expansion plans.

Naturally this piqued my curiosity, so I decided to do some digging.

It was not difficult to find the story online but it was impossible to find a mention of the $45m, – except on The Platform with Shane Jones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E8_UzHCuW4

DTNZ: US-Iran deal ‘now complete’ – Trump

Mediator Pakistan says the sides will sign the agreement on Friday in Switzerland.

US President Donald Trump has announced that the peace deal with Iran is “now complete,” signaling the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

John MacDonald: Voters deserve better than he said, she said

Don’t you think it’s a bit rich of Nicola Willis to be criticising Labour when, last election, she did exactly what she’s accusing Labour of doing? Keeping us in the dark.

Every politician is guilty on this front. Which is why I’m right behind the idea being floated by economist Cameron Bagrie today. He’s saying that we need to set-up an independent outfit that would help us decide whether what politicians are promising stacks up financially.

Kerre Woodham: How do we know what's true and what's not when it comes to costings?

Now we were saying this last week and it hasn't gone away and it's not going to go away as the different parties announce their policies in the lead up to the election. How do we know what's true and what's not when it comes to costings?

When it comes to millions and billions of dollars, how do we keep tabs on it? We can't. Nicola Willis says there's an $18.2 billion gaping hole between Labour's promises, which are reinstating the pay equity scheme, billions, the future fund and the cap on public transport, and the money available to fund those policy promises.

David Farrar: The Hooton-in-chief

The Post announced:

In a bombshell move, former National Party strategist-turned consultant Matthew Hooton has been chosen as the new editor of The Post, replacing outgoing Editor in Chief Tracy Watkins. He hopes NZ’s powerful institutions are ‘a little unsettled’ by his appointment, and has big plans to accelerate the brand to become Kiwis’ primary news source.

It is fair to call this a bombshell move.

I think it is a very smart, albeit somewhat risky, move.

Andrew Dickens: Smaller milk companies should have more say in the farmgate milk price

On Saturday I went to my local rugby club’s game. North Shore versus Northcote. A game Shore comfortably won.

And there I met the president of the club Laurie Magrain, who as it happens is a fan of this station and the Chair of New Zealand’s second largest dairy company, Open Country.

Brendan O'Neill: The barbarism in Belfast

That crazed, savage knifing was a bloody byproduct of state failure.

Are we allowed to feel pure, cold rage yet? It’s what millions of us felt this morning as we watched footage of that barbarous assault in Belfast. However much the pleb-fearing thoughtpolice of Keir Starmer’s government might disapprove of such fury, it’s the emotion that swelled in all decent British and Irish people as they saw a brute rain stab after stab upon his sprawled, struggling victim. Good luck trying to curb the people’s rage over this act of wanton savagery.

David Farrar: Callaghan failure

The Post reports:

Nearly a third of the Callaghan Innovation’s $149 million Covid-era research and development loan book is in arrears, including $21.5m linked to 63 failed or insolvent businesses, as the agency enters its final months before disestablishment.

Callaghan Innovation – a government entity set up to make businesses around the country more innovative and provide grants – is now being disestablished as part of wider science system reforms.

David Farrar: A tax/levy increase I approve of

The Post reports:

The Government is doubling the “offender levy” all convicted criminals pay to $100 – far higher than the rate of inflation.

The higher fee will generate about $2.6 million extra for the Government, all of it to be spent on victim services.

Monday June 15, 2026 

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NZCPR Newsletter: People Power

“People Power” has forced the Government to change the law to strengthen local government democracy.

This is a major win for everyone who raised the alarm about the tribal takeover of local government that’s now underway all around New Zealand. From individuals, to media, think tanks, lobby groups, councillors, and politicians – each person who spoke out strongly against the violation of democracy that’s been going on helped ensure the powers that be could no longer turn a blind eye.

Graeme Reeves: The Constitutional Revolution New Zealand Pretends Is Not Happening

There are moments in a nation’s history when power shifts so gradually, so quietly, and so bureaucratically that the public fails to recognise the transformation until the new order is already entrenched. New Zealand may now be living through precisely such a moment.

The Tiaki Wai agreement is not merely a water governance document. It is a warning flare. A glimpse into a constitutional future being constructed incrementally, contractually, and largely beyond the direct awareness or explicit consent of the wider electorate.

Perspective with Andrew Dickens: I think Luxon got the climate change balance right

The biggest story of the week hit on Wednesday. And no, the biggest story of the week wasn’t fare caps on public transport. I mean, that was - they say - a $65 million policy that I reckon is three times that, but it wasn’t the big one.

It wasn’t whether or not Labour had a tent at Fieldays either. I mean, hello - come on.

Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Coal Power 2030

UK

Net Zero Watch: we need a Coal Power 2030 mission

Britain faces an electricity capacity crunch, because we will soon lose much of our gas-fired fleet. Replacements - either nuclear or gas - will arrive too late. A new paper by Andrew Montford explains that the only option is coal. Politicians will need to come to terms with this painful fact.

Ani O'Brien: The BSA’s parting gift - Showing why NZ needs the Definitions Bill

Reflecting on how entirely mad the situation is

Animals often become most erratic in their final moments. Wounded, they lash out indiscriminately. Having lost the battle for survival, creatures frequently become more aggressive, more irrational, and more dangerous as the end draws near.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority appears to be experiencing a similar phenomenon. Although they are certainly less rabid dog and more deceptively friendly-looking otter.

Peter Williams: The Naidoo controversy

How the media is fighting back at Richard Chambers' and Mark Mitchell's questions

Here’s a classic case of how media can attract you with a patently misleading headline.

From the New Zealand Herald website, posted at 4.21 pm on June 11:

Former commissioners defend Labour police candidate Rakesh Naidoo’s integrity, question political motives and fear for ‘damaged’ police reputation

Underneath the headline was a photo of the Police Commissioner Richard Chambers.

John McLean: Half Measures

…which leave New Zealand’s public “servants” free to fill their DEI boots

On 2 June 2026, changes relating to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) were made to New Zealand’s Public Service Act 2020.

The changes, initiated by the New Zealand First political party: