Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: It's strange where people's minds went on the Donald Trump assassination attempt

I’ll tell you what I found most surprising about the assassination attempt on Donald Trump at the weekend: the number of people who do not believe it really happened or that it was a genuine attempt at all.

There are a remarkable number of people who believe the incident was staged and who are openly discussing that belief, including claims that Trump was not actually shot through the ear a couple of months ago.

Ryan Bridge: Why are young women doing the job of cops?

Did you hear the story about these three young flatmates who hunted down their own burglars, busted them and took back their stuff?

Sarah, Anna and Charlotte... all in their 20s... got home from work in Christchurch, and some mug, or mugs, had broken in and stolen their stuff.

Douglas Murray: The Attempt on Trump’s Life and Political Violence in America

Douglas Murray, journalist and author, joins School of War host Aaron MacLean to discuss the assassination attempt that both witnessed in person at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday. Was there a lapse in appropriate security? Is political violence being normalized? Can it be contained? WATCH BELOW.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 26.4.26

Wednesday April 29, 2026 

News:
Iwi 'expects' bigger decision-making role
Rāpaki iwi Te Hapū o Ngāti Wheke is calling for a new strategic partnership with Christchurch City Council to ensure it is involved in key decisions about land and waterways it acts as guardian for.

Ngāti Wheke chair Joseph Tyro and deputy chair Manwanui Parata presented to city councillors as part of Annual Plan 2026/27 hearings.

David Farrar: Saving billions through fewer WOFs

The Government announced:

“Compared to other countries, New Zealand has very frequent inspections for light vehicles. Modern light vehicles are significantly safer and more reliable, but our rules haven’t kept pace, imposing unnecessary costs on motorists. Other countries including Ireland, Germany, Japan, and Australia inspect every one to two years or at ownership change and achieve comparable or better safety outcomes,” Mr Bishop says.

John McLean: Is Anzac Day For Honouring The War Dead Or Advancing An "indigenous" Agenda?

My earliest memory of Anzac Day is as a child standing on Wellington's Lambton Quay watching the parade pass - first some army jeeps with about a dozen very old men in them - too old to march. These were the Boer War veterans. Next came a mass of grey-haired men - a few with walking sticks and the odd wooden leg or so but all of them in jackets and ties and wearing their colourful medals. These were the First World War men.

Then an even larger group of much younger men - again all in jackets and ties and with medals and banners proclaiming Alamein, Crete, Italy and, of course, a handful of Battle of Britain fighter pilots. Then a much smaller bunch of much younger looking Korean War vets brought up the rear together with Wrens and bands and other things to impress my young mind.

Ani O'Brien: Unreported for nearly a year - media misconduct in Parliament

Inside the Press Gallery: power, silence, and the accountability gap in New Zealand media

On the evening of 13 May 2025, Finance Minister Nicola Willis hosted a pre-Budget drinks event in her parliamentary office. The event appears, in official records, as “EVENT: Press Gallery… Parliament… Invited Guests” at 6pm in her ministerial diary. It was intended to be a fairly standard engagement. These gatherings are a familiar ritual; relatively informal, off-camera, and populated by the country’s most senior political journalists alongside ministers and staff. They exist in the grey space between professional obligation and social familiarity and are a mechanism through which relationships are built and managed.

Mike's Minute: It's not as bad in business as you think

Here's a small myth-busting exercise for you – things aren't as bad as you might think.

Business sales from small and medium businesses are up and by quite a lot. They're up 21% in fact.

Why would you buy a business at a time like this?

Pee Kay: When Failures became Outages

And who is to blame?

Our wallets took another hit this month as power prices increased by roughly 5%, that, an added painful addition to the 12% increase we experienced in 2025. While most households faced increases between 4% and 12%, we should also spare a thought for Northland households, who are grappling with a 21% price hike while the rest of the country looks for someone to blame!

Naturally, consumers are asking; Why are we being subjected to these relentless price hikes, and who is responsible? Is there a single entity at fault, or is this a systemic failure?

Dave Patterson: Iran Is Out of Time

President Donald Trump has run out of patience with Iran. In an abrupt turn, the US president canceled a planned trip to Islamabad, Pakistan, by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to meet with an Iranian negotiating team to attempt to find an end to the Iran conflict. It has become clear that Tehran is using the meetings to simply string the US along, and now Trump has had enough. So, as things stand, the US controls the Arabian Gulf, and Iran does not.

Guy C Charlton, Tim Fadgen: A landmark US court ruling on birthright citizenship is coming. What does NZ law say?

The US Supreme Court is poised to deliver its much anticipated and debated decision on the question of birthright citizenship.

At the centre of the case (known as Trump v. Barbara) is an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day of office in 2025, barring citizenship for children born to parents illegally in the United States or on long-term visas.

David Farrar: The PM getting some mongrel

I’ve been impressed with what I would call the PM getting some mongrel in the last few weeks, as his leadership came under attack. Let’s look at what he did.

  Tuesday April 28, 2026 

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Ryan Bridge: The India FTA is up to businesses now

Judging by the coverage out of New Delhi overnight, the Indian press appears optimistic about the trade deal with New Zealand.

As optimistic as our government and industry, and as of last week Labour, are about it here.

Barrie Davis: Indiana Jones Cries Fowl

Dear Perzen Patel,

I read your piece “NZ Indians have been silent on the butter chicken row. So I’m speaking up” in the Sunday Star-Times today (here). If the Indians have not mentioned it, I can see a good reason why.

Caleb Anderson: Dare to be a Daniel

The words below will be familiar to those who grew up in Christian homes. Whether you view Daniel in truth, or in archetype, his story bore/bears witness to the willingness of some to stand for principles in spite of the cost.

Clive Bibby: United We Stand and Fall

I doubt there is an event anywhere in the world that unites the peoples of a country more than our Anzac Remembrance Day.

And this commemoration doesn’t stop at our shore - it stretches across the ditch embracing our nearest neighbour Australia who fought alongside us in two World Wars hence the name ANZAC - Australia New Zealand Army Corp.

Dave Patterson: Technology Theft - How American Tech Keeps Showing up in China

On Wednesday, April 22, the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary heard testimony on the topic “Stealth Stealing: China’s Ongoing Theft of US Innovation.” Witnesses included Mark Cohen, Senior Fellow at the University of Akron Law School's Intellectual Property Institute; Tom Lyons, Co-Founder of the 2430 Group; and Helen Toner, Interim Executive Director of the Center for Security and Emerging Technology at Georgetown University. The issues included blatant theft of US technology and intellectual property, as well as intense competition with China for dominance in the field of artificial intelligence. And this theft by the CCP is nothing new.

Rodney Hide: New Zealand’s Rot Starts in Empty Pews

Christianity didn’t just arrive in New Zealand—it built the place. Missionaries planted the first permanent settlement in 1814, translated the Treaty, ran the early schools and hospitals, and gave us a moral framework of personal responsibility, stable families and covenantal duty. For a century and a half it was the cultural default. Then the 1960s secular wave hit. By the 2023 Census only 32.3 per cent called themselves Christian; 51.6 per cent claimed no religion. The collapse is not coincidence. It is the root of the social decay now choking the country.

Peter Williams: Luxon lacks courage

Backing out of interviews is poor form

Any politician who refuses to front on a particular media outlet essentially because he or she is afraid of being made to look foolish is, frankly, a coward and not competent to be in a position of responsibility.

It’s into that category that we must now place the current Prime Minister. We know that Jacinda Ardern was already a certified member.