Friday May 15, 2026 

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Caleb Anderson: The Denial of Complexity in the Search for Simplicity

I initially trained to be a history teacher, but have spent most of my career in school administration. I have sometimes thought that, in retirement, I would give my time to the nearest secondary school, at no charge, for the simple privilege of working with their senior history students, inculcating a love for the discipline, and maybe to encourage some students to further their studies of history at the tertiary level.

Clive Bibby: Kiwis that punch above their weight

Watching Country Calendar each week will introduce you to the growing number of entrepreneurial Kiwi farmers, agricultural scientists plus associate businessmen and women who contribute towards our international reputation for innovation and fiscal integrity in the rural sector.

Matt Pottinger & Liza Tobin: Resisting Xi’s Designs in the Year of the (Trojan) Horse

At the US-China summit, Trump must reject any ploys that would weaken America.

American officials heading to Beijing this week have said their goal is stability in the US-China relationship. But as Washington signals its desire for calm, Beijing has spent the weeks before the May 14–15 summit sharpening its leverage: demanding Meta unwind its acquisition of AI startup Manus, tightening its grip on rare earth exports, and codifying its right to punish any firm that complies with US sanctions and export controls. Beijing is fighting for technological supremacy over the United States, a struggle Chinese leader Xi Jinping aptly calls “the main battlefield.”

Breaking Views Update: Week of 10.5.26

Friday May 15, 2026 

News:
Government briefing flags AI risks for Māori culture, stories and data
Government agencies are warning about potential challenges around cultural aspects of artificial intelligence.

Ministry of Māori Development Te Puni Kōkiri is leading policy work with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) on generative AI (artificial intelligence) and how it relates to Māori culture.

Mike's Minute: Reality vs ideology re: asset sales

Bit of buzz around Kiwibank as it potentially looks to have another crack at getting bigger, and by getting bigger, then becomes better able to take on the so-called "big four".

This is business and it's politics.

Asset sales are back on the agenda, especially for the National and ACT parties.

Mike Grimshaw: It’s the (social adhesion) economy, Stupid!

One of the on-going issues of modern life, identified from the rise of industrial and urban society in the early 19th century, is the sense of insecurity, of a lack of cohesion within society. New Zealand prefers not to think with Karl Marx; but if we go to Marx for description, not prescription – that is, go to Marx to get an on-the-ground sense of what was happening with the rise of modernity (not to go to him for answers) – then we can recognize that much of what he declared in 1848 in the Communist Manifesto holds true today…even in New Zealand:

Richard Shaw: Can a citizenship test really measure what it means to be a New Zealander?....

Kiwi or not to be: can a citizenship test really measure what it means to be a New Zealander?

New Zealanders like to think of themselves as an uncomplicated lot. So straightforward, in fact, that successful completion of a short test can determine one’s fitness to become a Kiwi.

At least, that’s the plan from Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke Van Velden, who has announced that from late 2027 part of the process of becoming a New Zealand citizen will entail scoring at least 75% in a 20-question multiple-choice test.

Dr Bryce Edwards: Democracy Briefing - The Māori political class is failing its people

On Monday, Mariameno Kapa-Kingi announced publicly she was leaving Te Pāti Māori to form the Te Tai Tokerau Party. The announcement was framed in the language of mana motuhake, regional self-determination, and wahine leadership. It was, she said, the approach she and her team decided was best for them.

Dr Eric Crampton: Our immigration rules should reflect what’s happening here, not in Europe

A bar in a rough neighbourhood has a few viable options.

It can have a strict doorman checking every patron to make sure they suit the vibe the bar is trying to create.

It also can have a hefty bouncer inside the bar, ready to kick out anyone who causes trouble.

Or it can have neither and just let the mix of patrons sort itself out.

Kerre Woodham: It's time to commit to the infrastructure we need to future proof New Zealand

It will be the single biggest piece of infrastructure that New Zealand will build. Remember when Shane Jones' Northport was going to be the single biggest piece of infrastructure? Well, now that's gone the way of the dodo. So the single biggest piece of infrastructure that New Zealand will build in our lifetimes, will come when the Government makes the decision on what a new Auckland Harbour crossing will look like. The time for discussion and debate is over, there simply isn't that luxury. We've been faffing around another crossing for decades.

Bob Edlin: How to help the budget deficit by trimming ministerial salaries....

How to help the budget deficit by trimming ministerial salaries – when Potaka docks DoC, then let’s lop his lolly

The PoO team has come up with a scheme – dare we describe it as a fiendish scheme? – for addressing its budgetary concerns.

We propose lopping the salary paid to the Minister of Conservation according to the amount of DoC land that is sold on his watch.

David Farrar: A long overdue citizenship test

Brooke van Velden announced:

Minister of Internal Affairs Brooke van Velden announced today that a test to strengthen the citizenship by grant process will be introduced from late 2027.

Thursday May 14, 2026 

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David Farrar: Final UK local election results

English Councillors

• Reform 1,453 (+1,451) (+72550%)
• Labour 1,068 (-1,496) (-58%)
• Lib Dems 844 (+155) (+22%)
• Conservatives 801 (-563) (-41%)
• Greens 587 (+146) (+302%)

Ryan Bridge: Wellington's endless spending on pen-pushers and reviews

You can't escape bureaucrats in Wellington; it's an occupational hazard.

Despite the bad press they get, they're not all useless.

But it depends on how you use them, and how often.

Take the Golden Mile disaster in Wellington, as just one example.

Peter Collins: Civil War? Can MFAT use UNDRIP to destroy us?

I 'identify' as a New Zealander though I came here fleeing Europe in my mother's arms during the 1930s. I have no indigenous blood though many of my friends have.

I think I understand that the proposed India Free Trade Treaty has an UNDRIP problem - much has been written about that by better pens than mine.

Mike's Minute: Has the Māori Party been a success?

So given the original Māori Party was formed in 2004, would we call it a success?

A party for Māori. What have they achieved?

Have they done more damage than good? Do we differentiate between Māori and "Māori". By that I mean Māori who aren't as angsty as some and are perfectly happy on the general roll.

Ani O'Brien: AUT’s Little Manifesto of Hatred

My literary and moral review of the worst poetry I have ever read

READ THE LITERARY ABOMINATION ONLINE HERE. It was published in the most recent edition of Debate magazine which is the student magazine at AUT.

Gary Judd KC: The Sting in the India Trade Deal

A Constitutional Trojan Horse: advancing change through political stealth

Trade Minister Hon Todd McClay has announced that the New Zealand-India free trade agreement has been signed and that the formal parliamentary treaty scrutiny process is now under way. The full text of the agreement is now public and has been referred to Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee for examination.