Geoff Parker: Fairness For All — Or A Particular Kind Of Fairness?

Chief Ombudsman John Allen's recent speech deserves careful scrutiny. Not simply because of where it was delivered, but because of who delivered it — and what he chose to say.

Koroneihana (Coronation) is a significant Māori and Tainui occasion centred on the Kīngitanga, the Māori King movement, bringing together people for cultural celebration, discussion and consideration of matters important to Māori.

There is nothing inherently improper about the Chief Ombudsman attending such an event. Public officials should be able to engage respectfully with different communities.

Pee Kay: Shoot for the Stars and Land on a Mountain

Back in June I wrote an article titled “Consultants or Extortionists” – https://nominister.wordpress.com/2026/06/15/consultants-or-extortionists/ where the central theme was that a Tauranga tribe was demanding $450 million to withdraw objections to the Port of Tauranga’s expansion plans.

But now the Stella Passage expansion has been approved under the Fast track Approvals Act, subject to strengthened conditions to address cultural impacts???

Peter Williams: Tour Report - Politics

Is South Africa on the cusp of something really significant ?

Because of our relationship through rugby and cricket New Zealanders have long carried an interest in South African politics.

For the first thirty five years of my life many New Zealanders actively protested against the apartheid regime of South Africa’s National minority government, culminating in the unprecedented but not repeated actions against the 1981 Springboks.

Kerre Woodham: Who on earth is using meth?

Who the hell is doing all this meth?

Yesterday came the news that there were almost 2 million doses detected in wastewater sites over one week in April. One week. 2 million doses. Consumption in the first quarter of 2024 was 15% higher than it was over the previous four quarters.

Frank Shostack: Cash Removal Will Damage the Market Economy

According to certain experts, there is an urgent need to remove cash from the economy. It is argued that cash provides support to the shadow economy and permits tax evasion.

Another justification for its removal is that, in times of economic shocks which push the economy into a recession, the run for cash exacerbates the downturn (i.e., it becomes a factor contributing to economic instability). Moreover, it is held that, in the modern world, most transactions can be settled by means of electronic funds transfer. Money in the modern world is an abstraction.

John McLean: A Salute To The Greatest New Zealander

The Sunday closest to 15th September is traditionally Battle of Britain Sunday. I remember as a child seeing men proudly wearing their medals to church on this sacred day as well as an elderly neighbour turning up there wearing a breastful of colourful medals - those earned by her two sons, both of whom were killed in Bomber Command within a very short time of each other.

Andrew Roberts: What Churchill Knew about Preserving Freedom

Liberty is secured by sacrifice, moral clarity, decisive leadership, and strategic patience.

Winston Churchill’s speeches stand as amongst the greatest examples of powerful, eloquent rhetoric, with those most frequently cited and celebrated being the ones he delivered during World War Two. Churchill assumed the premiership in May 1940 at a time of great uncertainty and danger for the United Kingdom. His speeches during this time are remembered as warnings that Nazism meant the destruction of liberty. He vowed that Britain would continue the fight after the Fall of France in June 1940, and portrayed the preservation of democracy as a fundamental aim of the war.

Rodney Hide: KiwiMart — The Great Leap Forward

The Greens have a plan for cheaper groceries. It’s called KiwiMart. Force Foodstuffs and Woolworths to sell 120 stores and a couple of warehouses into state ownership at a heavy discount, splash about $2.8 billion, ban “price gouging,” and — abracadabra — milk is affordable.

Mike's Minute: The battle of ideologies at play

There's a battle of the ideologies on display as ACT looks to cut art spending on roading projects.

It's very ACT, i.e. fiscally disciplined. Every $1 million on roading needs to be $1 million on roading, not 99% on roads and 1% on art.

The art is an issue for several reasons, mainly for me because most of it is unimpressive.

Wednesday September 9, 2026 

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Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Wellington Council's got another thing to worry about funding

Tell you what, if you think Wellington doesn't have enough problems already, let me tell you about a new one: Wellington Zoo.

Wellington Zoo needs $14 million for its lion enclosure. It's urgent. It's not something that can be deferred. Wellington City Council needs to cough up the money.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 6.9.26

Wednesday September 9, 2026 

News:
Fast-track approval granted for Port of Tauranga’s Stella Passage expansion
New Zealand’s largest port, Port of Tauranga, has been granted fast-track approval today for an expansion bid extending its container berths and wharves.

The fast-track application was initially lodged at the end of 2024, before Ngāti Kuku Hapū Trust sought a judicial review of the scope wording, halting progress.

This followed a court ruling ordering the port to pay iwi $298,023.

Geoff Parker: The Trojan Horse - Six Words Changing New Zealand

Six fashionable words — and what lies behind them

There are six Māori words appearing more and more in New Zealand government, councils, public agencies, law and political debate.

Colinxy: The Greens’ Supermarket Nationalisation Plan....

.....Ideology First, Arithmetic Later

The Green Party has unveiled its latest “transformational” policy: nationalising 120 supermarkets at a cost of $2.8 billion. According to their pitch:

"Two companies control what almost everyone in this country eats, and they take about a million dollars a day in excess profit out of our shopping baskets.

 

It’s a compelling slogan. It’s also almost entirely unsupported by the available data.

Jordan Williams: SHOCK, HORROR - ACT wants road money spent on... roads

On Friday, ACT launched its Keep New Zealand Moving transport policy, promising to squeeze more infrastructure out of every dollar by stopping road-user money being spent on non-functional art and monuments.

Kerre Woodham: Do young people still see homeownership as a goal?

Back in the day, when I first got this job, I was desperate to buy a house.

All of a sudden I was earning enough to pay a mortgage, but after years of living on a waitress's wages and being a single mum, I didn't have the deposit.

I would now be able to start saving for one, there was a bit left over after expenses, which was a new and wonderful feeling.

Dr Don Brash: A "House of Iwi Lords"? Te Pāti Māori’s radical plan exposed

Te Pāti Māori's latest proposal is unlikely to become law. However, with all the ongoing talk about the importance of the Treaty and racial preferences by the Labour Party, Green Party, and TOP, we cannot totally rule it out.

Bob Edlin: Tax claims and electioneering bullsh*t.......

.....The Post spotlights some campaign nonsense

National’s Catherine Wedd is among the many National MPs who are parroting a moot message about the taxes that will be imposed if voters elect a Labour-led government at the general election.

In Parliament last week, she insisted:

David Farrar: LOL Greens want to run the supermarkets

The Herald reports:

The Green Party is promising to nationalise 120 Woolworths and Foodstuffs supermarkets to create a new Government-owned supermarket, KiwiMart, if elected.

Mike's Minute: Why is National not releasing reports on race-based issues?

You do wonder if National have an agenda pre-election over race-based issues.

The Waitangi Tribunal review is on Tama Potaka's desk and has been for a while.

It hasn’t gone to Cabinet. Why not?