Having only just celebrated her 50th birthday, Te Pāti Māori MP Takutai Tarsh Kemp sadly passed away this week. She had been diagnosed with kidney disease last year and was receiving treatment. She was on the waiting list for a transplant. The assumption has been that she succumbed to her illness.
On Thursday, members from all parties (except Te Pāti Māori) paid tribute to her life before Parliament as well as her short time as an MP. Te Pāti Māori were in Auckland with her whanau. In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours, Kemp was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to street dance and youth. Gone far too soon.
Much Ado About the Regulatory Standards Bill
A lot has been made about David Seymour’s Bill by the same crowd who were most angered by his Treaty Principles Bill. I must admit I was feeling rather baffled by the angst as I couldn’t see anything particularly objectionable in the Bill so I was relieved to see that even very left-wing academics like Dr Eddie Clark of Victoria University have called the concern “overblown”.1 As the Herald reports, some of the Opposition’s outspoken outrage is about as deep as a puddle when properly examined. Willie Jackson has been jumping up and down about it, but when journalists put to him that “the legislation did not impose any legal obligations enforceable within the courts.” He struggled to find an answer before resorting to “No, I don’t acknowledge it, don’t believe it, don’t trust it. I don’t trust them.” In response, Seymour simply expressed “The good thing is, I don’t think Willie Jackson will become a judge any time soon.” ACT has also pointed to Labour’s (2011) Justice spokesperson and lawyer Charles Chauvel’s comments supporting the same principles as those in the Bill.
Much Ado About the Regulatory Standards Bill
A lot has been made about David Seymour’s Bill by the same crowd who were most angered by his Treaty Principles Bill. I must admit I was feeling rather baffled by the angst as I couldn’t see anything particularly objectionable in the Bill so I was relieved to see that even very left-wing academics like Dr Eddie Clark of Victoria University have called the concern “overblown”.1 As the Herald reports, some of the Opposition’s outspoken outrage is about as deep as a puddle when properly examined. Willie Jackson has been jumping up and down about it, but when journalists put to him that “the legislation did not impose any legal obligations enforceable within the courts.” He struggled to find an answer before resorting to “No, I don’t acknowledge it, don’t believe it, don’t trust it. I don’t trust them.” In response, Seymour simply expressed “The good thing is, I don’t think Willie Jackson will become a judge any time soon.” ACT has also pointed to Labour’s (2011) Justice spokesperson and lawyer Charles Chauvel’s comments supporting the same principles as those in the Bill.
Much Ado About ACT’s social media
There has also been a lot of pearl clutching about ACT’s social media around the Regulatory Standards Bill. Newsroom called it “a lame but personally intimidating campaign”.2
Click to view
In short, ACT has been identifying “victims” of “Regulatory Standards Derangement Syndrome” and sharing this on social media. Academic Anne Salmond is particularly incensed at having been named as one of the victims. She penned a lengthy and dramatic condemnation for Newsroom in which she somehow linked ACT’s social media to the fact that “In the United States at present, political violence is escalating, with senators and their families being physically assaulted, even shot and killed.”
As far as I can tell, ACT has only targeted people who can fairly be considered public figures and who have commented about the Bill in a way the party deems to be deranged. It is a pretty tame way of poking fun at political opponents while engaging in the substance of their comments on the Bill. It is political discourse and perhaps Anne Salmond thinks it is lame, but it isn’t remotely threatening.
Udderly unacceptable OnlyFans account milks farm content
Animal rights activists got up in arms this week about a trio of Kiwi women who use OnlyFans to share content they capture while working on a farm. They don’t wear much and sexualise pretty much everything. Apparently it is making them wealthy. SAFE said it was “deeply concerning” to see mother cows who are “already being exploited for their reproductive systems” being used in videos; so basically they are offended by dairy consumption more than anything else.
One of the creators hit back saying “There was no nudity, no explicit behaviour, and no cows engaged in or subjected to anything outside of standard agricultural practices. Unless wearing a bikini in a rural postcode is now considered a felony, I’m not sure what the issue is.”
Erica Stanford reacts poorly to pressure
It emerged this week that there is a clause in Stanford’s Education and Training Bill that contradicts the Government’s mandate to bring an end to Labour’s campaign of mandating Māori language, culture, and spirituality in everything. Mike Hosking drew attention to the outcry online from those who see section 127(2)e as mandating the Māorification of the education system. The pressure this generated for the minister barely compares to that which many of her colleagues have been put her under but she has demonstrated that she is a real risk to the Government when the heat is turned up. Instead of minimising the reach of the discourse, she added fuel to the fire by posting on social media attacking her critics and losing her temper in a radio interview.
This behaviour does not come as a surprise to anyone who has spoken to people who work for her, but likely does shock those who have not previously seen this side of the competent and polished minister. Let’s just say my money wasn’t on Andrew Bayly being the minister to have a ‘treatment of staff’ scandal.
Home ownership only a distant possibility instead of a laughable fantasy
As a bitter millennial this topic is a sensitive one for me. If only I had had the presence of mind to invest my lunch money while at school. Anyway, enough of the dramatics. The good news is Interest.co.nz reports that “mortgage affordability for first home buyers continues to improve as mortgage rates and house prices at the bottom of the market both continue a slow but steady decline.” Additionally, “mortgage interest rates are tumbling, with the average of the two year fixed rates offered by the main banks dropping to 5.01% in May, down from more than 7% in late 2023.”
I thought this was a particularly good piece of reporting as it provided a breakdown of the real life outcome of these changes in the market:
Interest.co.nz estimates that the mortgage payments on a home purchased at the national lower quartile price of $580,000 with a 10% deposit, would be $738 a week (at 5.01% plus a loading for a low equity loan with a 30 year term), down from $886 in May last year, a saving of $148 a week (-16.7%) over the last 12 months.3
POTUS dropped bombs…and then an F-Bomb
This week, tensions between Iran, Israel, and the US reached a critical point, with Israel and the US launching airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and facilities. In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US military assets. Amid escalating violence and despite considerable detractors on the left and right, US President Donald Trump some how managed to broker a ceasefire on June 24. Both sides have violated the terms almost immediately which led to ‘Daddy’ Trump (NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s nickname, not mine!) getting very cross indeed.
Asked by the media about the ceasefire breaches, Trump showed his frustration saying: “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the f*** they're doing."
The telling off seemed to do the trick as there has since been a fragile peace. While the ceasefire offers a temporary break, things are very volatile and the underlying issues remain unresolved, with the potential for renewed hostilities high. Nonetheless, by history’s standards, Donald Trump should be awarded a Nobel Peace Prize. This appears to have been an unorthodox, but highly successful set of actions by the American President and he should be commended for it. His restraint and the targeted nature of his military action in particular should be applauded. Objectively this should be celebrated by all, but it won’t be because Trump Derangement Syndrome won’t allow it.
This week’s heritage building
Somehow this has turned into a weekly segment! I spotted this week’s example of derelict buildings with heritage status on X. Economist Stu Donovan says “KNOCK IT DOWN”. This building is in Wellington - I want to say in Newtown, but correct me if I am wrong.
Sex offenders in New Zealand have it way too easy
Serial Auckland sex offender Luca Fairgray has appealed his latest sentence of 4.5 years claiming it is “manifestly excessive”. I strongly disagree. I say, quadruple it, add another decade, and then we will consider a parole hearing. And that is only if this creepy piece of excrement stops minimising his offending, takes accountability, and does some serious rehabilitation. I am generally of the opinion that serious sex offenders are highly likely to reoffend and so the best thing for society is to keep them locked up.
Trevor Mallard hit with another lawsuit
Lawyer Tudor Clee seems to be a one-man legal juggernaut for those impacted by government actions throughout the covid period. His latest case to hit the news is a High Court case brought by a Northland girl who was 11 at the time of the protest at Parliament.
The claim relates to “mental anguish, humiliation, degradation and dehumanisation” suffered as a result of Trevor Mallard’s decisions to soak protestors with water and play ‘annoying’ songs repeatedly. Damages of $40,000 are sought as well as declaration that the child’s rights were breached.
Official information now publicly available shows the top brass at the Police were deeply troubled by Mallard’s tactics and struggling to convey to the public that these were not police actions and were not endorsed by them. The New Zealand Herald reports that now-Police Commissioner Richard Chambers’ notes show he called Mallard “with [a] request not to turn on [the] sound system” and “Express concern it will impact on our negotiation tactic. I reinforce Police position and ask he doesn’t turn on. He responds to say he just wants to make life as unpleasant for protestors as possible. Says he ‘notes’ the Police position and request.”4
Mallard is no longer the Speaker so any legal action taken against ‘the Speaker’ is for Parliamentary Services and current Speaker Gerry Brownlee to deal with. However any lawsuit that names Trevor Mallard himself remains the ol’ duck’s problem.
In short - other stuff that happened:
- New Zealand First MP Tanya Unkovich has resigned from Parliament saying she feels she can contribute more to humanity in the private sector.
- Taiawa Harawira, the son of prominent Māori activist Titewhai Harawira and brother of ex-MP Hone Harawira, has been jailed for almost six years on historic child sex abuse.
- Auckland had a tornado and South Island floods.
- Controversial broadcaster Paul Henry (of “Dikshit” fame) has been appointed to the TVNZ board.
- Auckland Council has been instructed to allow apartment buildings of at least 15 storeys near key train stations.
- IRD says that by 2060, a quarter of New Zealand’s population is set to be over 65, up from about 16% today.
- Lorde released her new album and is behaving as strangely as possible to draw attention to it.
2 https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/06/23/anne-salmond-victim-of-the-day/
3 https://www.interest.co.nz/property/133877/mortgage-payments-cheaper-homes-are-their-lowest-level-four-and-half-years
4 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/lawsuit-targets-trevor-mallards-use-of-bad-music-and-sprinklers-to-drive-parliament-protesters-away/FR5JPXQEWRE4ZFOEWFNQL7PPQI/
Ani O'Brien comes from a digital marketing background, she has been heavily involved in women's rights advocacy and is a founding council member of the Free Speech Union. This article was originally published on Ani's Substack Site and is published here with kind permission.
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