Breaking Views Update: Week of 7.6.26

Tuesday June 9, 2026 

News:
Zespri kiwifruit licence system unfairly excludes multiply owned Māori land: Shane Jones
Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says Zespri shouldn’t be at tonight’s Māori agricultural awards in Whangārei, accusing the kiwifruit giant of failing to support Māori landowners trying to enter the industry it is celebrating.

Zespri rejected the criticism, saying Māori growers have a significant presence in the industry. It said it was working to increase their numbers and considering ways to address barriers to entry for aspiring multiply owned land block growers.

Peter Williams: Maori seat manipulation

How a clever campaign could help derail Chris Bishop

There’s an intriguing campaign underway to try and manipulate the existence of the Māori electorates at the next two elections – this year and 2029 - and possibly for 2032 as well.

That’s because the existence of seven such constituencies is guaranteed through the next two elections and there won’t be a review of their number and boundaries until at least 2030. Now that the census has been abandoned and replaced with otherwise available government data, there’s no guarantee the number of seats will change for 2032 either.

Dave Patterson: China Rapidly Building Missile Launching Pads

China is preparing to deploy its own Golden Dome. Satellite photographs show a network of air defense missile launch pads designed to protect Beijing’s intercontinental ballistic missile silos from a nuclear first strike. When your enemy begins to ensure that its offensive nuclear capability is protected, it is confirmation that the US's massive missile defense program has some validity.

Pee Kay: Data Sovereignty or Ethnic Patronage?

Maori data sovereignty? Yes, it’s a thing!

Our government is actively positioning New Zealand as an attractive hub for global data centres. Using our abundant supply of renewable energy, stable political climate, and strategic international cable connectivity, New Zealand can be viewed as an appealing option for global tech companies.

The government’s campaign to attract data centre investment is bolstered by offering policy support, better infrastructure, and fast track regulation.

David Farrar: The union that doesn’t stand up for its members

Audrey Young notes:

The Public Service Association more than most unions has attempted an appearance of political neutrality, not least because the concept lies at the heart of its members’ work. But perhaps it should give up the pretence.

The press release with its response to the announcement of $2.4b of cuts was headed: “Public Services will be decimated by reckless plan to fire nearly 9000 workers”.

John MacDonald: This parole board decision beggars belief

If you ever needed proof that victims of crime are taking a back seat to the criminals, this is it.

And if you ever needed proof that the parole board is out of touch with the rest of us, this is it.

Kerre Woodham: All sides of Government have to be clearer with how they're using our money

Labour's accusing the government of secretly spending $1 billion from next year's budget. The Taxpayers' Union has chimed in too, accusing the government of political skulduggery over the billion dollars in undisclosed future spending.

It amounts to $22 million in '27, '28 before ramping up over a four year period. Heather du Plessis Allan asked the Prime Minister about it this morning and he said there's nothing to see here.

Guest Post: The Herald’s $50 Billion Lie

A Guest Post by Danny Bright on GoodOil.

I opened the Herald online to find this headline:

“Donors to Trump’s ballroom project win billions of dollars in contracts, watchdog finds”

That certainly looks very much like exposure of corruption in high places and further confirmation that the man in the US White House isn’t fit to hold the office.

David Farrar: Who gets in on Labour’s List?

Labour have released their party list. People want to know who is likely to get in as a List MP. First how many overall seats will they get? On the average of the public polls it is 39. Then it is how many electorates will they win? Well purely on applying the current party vote in the polls to the 2023 results, Labour would win 26 electorates. Note this doesn’t take account of candidate quality, so isn;’t a projection – just an assumption.

So this would leave 13 List spots for Labour candidates who don’t win their electorates or are list only. So on current polling the Labour List MPs would be:

Monday June 8, 2026 

                   ⇩

Geoff Parker: Local Choice Cannot Override Democracy

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi argues that the Government's local government reforms represent an attack on local choice. But her argument contains a fundamental contradiction.

She claims that councils should be free to appoint iwi representatives as voting members because local communities may support those arrangements. Yet the very essence of democracy is that those who exercise voting power over public decisions should themselves be elected by the public.

Ian Miller: The Shocking Damage Caused by Covid Policies

The Covid lockdowns may not have been remotely effective, but at least they harmed millions of people and created long-lasting negative impacts that we’re still dealing with today.

That’s the conclusion of a massive new body of research into the nonsensical policies promoted by the public health “expert” class, promoted by their media partners, and enacted by incompetent, cowardly politicians.

Ivan Barnett: A Government That Has Turned Its Back On The Public.....

The Lone Goose, The Abandoned Flock, And A Government That Has Turned Its Back On The Public

For the first time in my lifetime, I am witnessing a Government that is distancing itself from the public, ignoring the voices of the people who elected it, and aligning itself instead with unelected iwi authorities who now hold increasing power over public assets, public services, and public decision‑making.

Just as in nature, when the lead goose breaks formation and flies away, the flock is left struggling in turbulence — directionless, unsupported, and burdened. A Prime Minister who leaves his flock to fend for themselves while he aligns with unelected interests has failed the basic duty of leadership.

Nick Clark: Why 40 years of council mergers have failed to deliver

For forty years, New Zealanders have been told that fewer councils mean better government, and for forty years, the evidence has refused to oblige.

Until 1989, New Zealand had around 850 elected local government bodies. Councils sat alongside elected water catchment boards, pest destruction boards, harbour boards, drainage boards and electricity supply boards. The democratic granularity was sometimes confusing and occasionally inefficient. It was also the deepest civic infrastructure in the country.

Dr Oliver Hartwich: A feel-good law with a global track record of failure

To most New Zealanders in 2026, slavery sounds like a relic of past centuries and faraway places. Unfortunately, it is not.

Forced labour, trafficking and debt bondage still trap millions worldwide, often in countries we trade with, from the cotton fields of Xinjiang to the fishing boats of South-East Asia.

Dr Michael Johnston: A good budget for education

Budget 2026 was not a typical election year budget. Instead of breaking out the pork barrel, Finance Minister Nicola Willis brought forward New Zealand’s projected return to surplus by a year, even if the projection rests on some bold assumptions.

Cast in that light, Vote Education did well. While the ‘fees-free’ year for tertiary students was cancelled and, like most government departments, education agencies will have to trim about 12% of their spending over four years, education as a whole came out ahead. In addition to reallocated savings, about $1 billion in new money will be spent on educational essentials over four years.

Bruce Cotterill: Why a boring Budget is exactly what New Zealand needed

It’s funny how the people who constantly take from the public purse are never happy with their lot. Meanwhile, those of us who make our own way just get on with it.

I’m a bit over the negativity. We’re becoming a country that allows the whingers and the whiners to dominate us with their grizzles and complaints.

Bob Edlin: The Press and politicians’ perks....

The Press and politicians’ perks – the spotlight goes on Brownlee while he considers the fate of Stuff journos

Checking on what’s doing in the country today, PoO spotted this on The Post website, on the top row of items on the menu under “News / Ā-motu” –

David Farrar: Nicola vs Grant

Grant Robertson’s 2023 Budget included forecasts for 2026/27. This allows us to directly compare what Grant Robertson said Labour would spend in 26/27 vs what Nicola Willis said she would spend.

Sunday June 7, 2026 

                   ⇩