Lindsay Mitchell: Quarter of a million children are now dependent on welfare

It's appalling that a quarter of a million children now need an income from the state to feed, clothe and house them.

Data released under the Official Information Act shows over a quarter of a million children were dependent on welfare at December 2025.

At 31 December 2025 there were 255,300 children aged 0-17 reliant on a caregiver on a main benefit (234,429); or on an Orphan/ Unsupported Child benefit (20,871).

Andrew Dickens: The grownups are in charge of infrastructure

Good Lord. Parliamentarians are actually doing something we've asked for.

They've come up with an Infrastructure Plan for the next 30 years and more remarkably it has rare cross party backing.

It was produced independently by the Infrastructure Commission.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Don't trifle with Erica Stanford

Ooh, let today be a warning to public servants considering trying to get one over Erica Stanford: they may want to rethink that approach and play with a straight bat instead, because Erica Stanford is not one to be trifled with.

Today, she has thrown her officials - her migration officials in particular - under the bus by revealing that they wasted more than $30 million on a biometrics data system that never actually materialised.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 14.6.26

Wednesday June 17, 2026 

News:
Ngāpuhi settlement: Minister says 10 hapū groups earmarked, agree-to-disagree sovereignty clause not ruled out
Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith is not ruling out including an agree-to-disagree sovereignty clause in the Crown’s settlement deed with Ngāpuhi, the country’s largest remaining iwi yet to settle historical Treaty grievances with the Crown.

Mike's Minute: Are there winners from the Iran deal?

So, we got there. We have a deal. Iran is over – back to normality.

Like most wars, you can spin it any way you want.

In this case, the part relief plays is not to be underestimated.

JC: Driver’s Seat, Back Seat or Boot

I note the Electoral Commission is highlighting the discriminatory nature of the election process, whereby people of a certain colour and ethnicity are offered a choice of either of two rolls on which they can register. How is it that this archaic piece of nonsense is allowed to exist? The only purpose it is serving is to remind the rest of the residing ‘peasants’ that in 2026 we have still not attained ‘one country’ status. It serves to remind us that, in the area that defines what a democratic country is – the rights of the individual – we are a country divided by race. It serves to remind us that a certain minority get a political choice the rest of us are not entitled to.

Colinxy: Labour’s “Three Free GP Visits”......

Labour’s “Three Free GP Visits”: A Policy That Solves Nothing Except Labour’s Need for a Slogan

Labour’s Health Spokesperson, Ayesha Jennifer Verrall, is often introduced to the public with the reassuring phrase “she’s a doctor.” True—though her practising licence appears to have lapsed…and she is now the face of Labour’s latest health‑sector miracle cure: three free GP visits for every New Zealander.

“Free,” of course, being the political euphemism for taxpayer‑funded, which in turn is the bureaucratic euphemism for you will pay for this, just not at the counter.

Simon O'Connor: It's already a failure

I'm prepared to say it now, even before the full text is released, but the framework to end the conflict between Iran and the United States is a already a failure.

I’ve not seen the full text of the agreement between the Islamic Regime and the United States, but I’m prepared already to call it a failure.

At best, this is just the start of a temporary ceasefire. This is not a peace agreement or anything remotely close. It is a memorandum of understanding – an agreement to discuss things further.

Peter Williams: Hooton of The Post

A new way for the newspaper industry

Has New Zealand just appointed its first “celebrity” editor?

The quite remarkable announcement today of columnist, speech writer, PR agent and strategist Matthew Hooton to be the editor of Wellington’s Post newspaper has some overtures of former British cabinet minister Michael Gove becoming editor of The Spectator and one time Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne leading London’s Evening Standard.

Bob Edlin: KiwiRail directors have a track record with infrastructure....

KiwiRail directors have a track record with infrastructure – but what about safety?

Just over a year ago, announcing new appointments to the KiwiRail board, Rail Minister Winston Peters said they brought commercial, freight and rail experience and a ‘can do’ attitude.

But when it comes to safety issues, can they do it as urgently as recent incidents demand?

David Farrar: How Superintendent Naidoo could have avoided all the fuss

Some people think that the scrutiny of Superintendent Naidoo is because he is standing for Labour. It isn’t. It is simply because he didn’t follow the rules laid out in the Police Manual. If he had, none of this would have happened.

Consider what would have occurred if he had approached his boss four months ago when Labour first talked to him about standing. I imagine it would have been something like this.

Alwyn Poole: Austerity? The Public Service Size Increased Again

In the March Quarter the Public Service workforce grew from 63,657 FTEs to 64,535. A quarterly increase of 1.4% and 12 month increase of 2.1%.

Ironically the Ministry for Regulation FTEs grew 11.6%.

Tuesday June 16, 2026 

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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.

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.