From BreakingViews archives: Barend Vlaardingerbroek - Contextualising the persecution of Christians

Freedom of religious belief is a fundamental human right. It stems from the freedom to hold and express one’s own opinions. This principle is one that all of us – religious and non-religious alike – should be able to agree upon.

It is worrisome, therefore, to come across reports of the persecution of people for reasons of religious identity. Whether Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Pagan or whatever, nobody should be persecuted because of religious belief. The Bishop of Truro’s Independent Review for the Foreign Secretary of FCO Support for Persecuted Christians (full report due later this year – see “Christian persecution 'at near genocide levels'”, BBC News, 3 May 2019), which warns that Christianity may be “wiped out” in parts of the world, including the Middle East, should accordingly set the alarm bells ringing.

From BreakingViews archives: Brian Gill - Who promotes science thinking when everyone defers to culture?

With New Zealand science agencies shy to push the general power and wonder of science, and instead applauding ethnic world views, the science view-point flounders.

The seven University of Auckland academics whose letter to the Listener in July 2021 provoked what a former newspaper editor called "the full, vindictive fury of the woke academic left", weren't just concerned that a government educational working group proposed making science and Maori knowledge of the natural world equivalent in the school science curriculum. They also worried generally about "disturbing misunderstandings of science emerging at all levels of education and in science funding".

From BreakingViews Archives: Bob Jones - Colonialism Nonsense

Try and imagine the carry-on in Britain if its government announced special privileges for the original Anglo-Saxon and Celt citizens.

Nearly 40% of today’s Brits are of non-traditional ethnicity. Take those of Indian ethnicity. They have the highest educational standards of all Britain’s diverse ethnicities. They also have the highest incomes and are the least likely to be in prison. The current cabinet is dominated by Indian ethnics, many of four generations back and most pundits are picking the current, (Indian ethnic) Chancellor as Boris’s successor.

But here in New Zealand the government’s posture, if in charge in Britain, would be that you citizens of Indian ethnicity, must step back and allow special privileges to the poor suffering original Anglo-Saxon and Celt inhabitants.

That is a parallel of what is happening here in New Zealand with maoridom.

David Farrar: Kiwiblog’s 2026 predictions

Here’s my 20 predictions for next year, which I’ll score at the end of the year. I got 13.5/20 right for 2025.

Monday December 29, 2025 

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Ani O'Brien: The Best and Worst of NZ Politics in 2025

According to me (Ani O'Brien). Don't shoot the messenger.

New Zealand politics in 2025 was essentially a live-action stress test for MMP, public patience, and the integrity of Parliamentary norms and traditions. The Government started the year promising “growth” but quickly realised that promising things that are in no small part out of your control is a bad idea. The Coalition also discovered that nothing angers New Zealanders more than change, except not changing anything. The tri-party arrangement has stood the test of time though. Ministers might have to carefully explain that they are all on the same page, just reading different paragraphs, in different languages, from entirely different books, at times, but their core shared purposes have been sufficient glue.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 28.12.25

Monday December 29, 2025 

News:
We’re Changing Our Name - James Cook High School.
Our school is directing a new path in their journey; one full of opportunity, growth, and promise for our students. We’re embracing change across our school, curriculum, and strengthening connections with the wider community.

David Farrar: Business confidence at 30 year high

Radio NZ reports:

Business confidence has hit its highest level in 30 years on improving activity and on expectations of an economic rebound.

ANZ’s Business Outlook survey showed headline confidence rose 7 points to a net 74 percent expecting better conditions.

Dave Patterson: Hezbollah and Iran Narco-Terrorists on US Back Porch

Dangerous Middle East networks thrive in Central and South America.

If you thought that Hezbollah was just Israel’s problem, think again. Iran’s proxy and Iran are well established in America’s southern neighbor countries, and, without intervention by the United States, they are there to stay. A tropical islet in northeast Venezuela called Margarita Island – also known as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s “Terror Island” – is a safe haven for Hezbollah and Iranian operatives. They move freely, participating in narco-terrorism, human trafficking, money laundering, terrorist training, and arms trafficking.

John McLean: Last Bastions of Woke

As 2025 draws to a close, we can say with some confidence that New Zealand has passed Peak Woke, and that Woke is on the wane. So where are the die hard Woketearoans retreating to and holding out? Where are the Neanderthal Woketards making their last stands?

David Farrar: Good for Morning Report, but not necessarily for Radio NZ

Radio NZ reports:

John Campbell is returning to RNZ, as the new co-host of Morning Report alongside Ingrid Hipkiss.

RNZ’s Chief Audio Officer Pip Keane said the field of applicants for role on the flagship news programme was impressive but Campbell stood out.

David Farrar: Potential terrorists should not get name supression

The Herald reports:

A Pukekohe man found in possession of extremist Islamic State content, including beheadings and terror attacks in Europe, has failed in his bid to secure a discharge without conviction.

However, his application for permanent anonymity was granted.

Insights From Social Media: The left's inability to laugh

Truth in Jest by Colinxy.

"Many a truth is spoken in jest"

Humour has always been one of humanity’s most subversive tools. It pierces pretence, exposes hypocrisy, and reveals uncomfortable realities in ways that solemn argument cannot. A joke can slip past defences, planting truth in the mind before ideology has time to react. Yet in our age, the Left seems uniquely incapable of laughing—especially when the joke is at their expense. They live within ideology, and ideology cannot abide ridicule. To laugh at it is to admit its fragility, and fragility is what they fear most.

  Sunday December 28, 2025 

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Frank Newman: Garrick Tremain

Garrick Tremain

Sadly, we have been informed that Garrick Tremain passed away painlessly and peacefully last evening in Lakes Hospital. 

Garrick was a truly outstanding individual. 

Not only was he the most talented political cartoonist of our generation, but the man behind the pencil was witty, insightful, fearless, compassionate, and humble. 

RIP Garrick.

Frank Newman, a writer, investment analyst, and Director of the NZCPR, is a former local body councillor.

Insights From Social Media: The He Puapua road map

PB adds to Geoff Parker’s post (bolding emphasis added):

What Waatea News is producing here is not analysis of 2025. It is a maintenance narrative — a story designed to protect institutional arrangements at the point they are being democratically wound back.

The structure is familiar and closely follows the He Puapua road map, as articulated by Claire Charters and advanced in practice by Lady Tureiti Moxon.

Matua Kahurangi: Another rāhui, this time for a natural death on a walking track

Firstly, I am sorry to hear that someone lost their life while walking the Taranaki Falls Track. My thoughts are with their family and loved ones. A sudden death on a popular walking track is tragic, and it deserves compassion, dignity, and respect.

However, it needs to be said. Why on earth is a rāhui needed when someone passes away from natural causes?

Ani O'Brien: Marc Daalder writes opinion, not journalism

Marc Daalder’s ideological tantrum, complete with foot stamp, begins with the headline,“Cabinet overrode health advice”. It tells you from the outset that Cabinet have been naughty! It takes a normal feature of democratic government (elected ministers making decisions!) and reframes it as scandal, as though unelected officials are supposed to govern and elected politicians are an unfortunate interference.

Laurie Wastell: US Launches Airstrikes on Islamic State in Nigeria to Protect “Innocent Christians”

The Trump administration has launched airstrikes on Islamic State in north-west Nigeria in coordination with Nigerian authorities, killing multiple militants. While Nigeria insists the strikes had “nothing to do with a particular religion”, President Trump railed against “Isis terrorist scum… who have been targeting… innocent Christians”. The Times has the story.

Marcelo R Santos: What if we taxed what people spend, not what they earn?

When people talk about tax fairness, the focus is almost always on income. How much the rich earn, how heavily that income should be taxed, and how to make sure lower earners are protected. But there is an older idea that is quietly starting to get attention again. What if taxes were based not on what people earn, but on what they spend?