Politics really is a contact sport and this week, Labour’s Chris Hipkins took a few to the face. Last week, Labour’s Future Fund fizzled, their gamer policy never took off, and Hipkins didn;t even know Ayesha Verrall was making health announcements. This week began with policy leaks, lies, and a capital gains tax that economist Dr Eric Crampton called “politically palatable but fiscally pointless.”
Hipkins was on the war path insisting he’d “root out the leaker,” swiping back at Chloe Swarbrick that he isn’t a “complete pushover” after she suggested coalition agreements would see a toughened up CGT, and lying to Ryan Bridge that he had to pull out of his media appearance because of the kids. The media appearance was early in the morning right after Labour’s CGT policy had been leaked and his children were with their mother, his ex-wife, so unless he meant other children he was caught in a lie. You can judge for yourself in this video.
It’s hard to overstate how bad this week was for Hipkins. The CGT rollout was meant to reassert his authority. Instead, it reminded everyone that Labour is still a party without message discipline, policy clarity, or self-awareness.
It’s hard to overstate how bad this week was for Hipkins. The CGT rollout was meant to reassert his authority. Instead, it reminded everyone that Labour is still a party without message discipline, policy clarity, or self-awareness.
The end of John Tamihere’s reign or beginning of the war?
Over at Te Pāti Māori, the long knives are finally out. The party’s newest MP ditched the leadership to throw her support behind Mariameno Kapa Kingi who also has an ally in Takuta Ferris. Then, Amokura Panoho, a founding TPM member went public calling for John Tamihere’s resignation, accusing him of turning the party into a personal fiefdom.
“It is time to release your grip on the party and allow it to breathe again…Te Pāti Māori was never yours to own. It existed before you, and it will exist after you. Your greatest act of leadership now would be to step aside with dignity and allow the party to find its way back to the principles it was founded upon,” said Panoho.
Here’s the thing with TPM, You had a good run, by your MPs and the Toitu Te Tirit Crowd but that’s over. The President, JT, needs to fall on his sword for the betterment of the Party, And Rawiri and Debbie need to do the same. Will it happen? I doubt it, #EGOs wont allow it.
Tau knows a thing or two about moving on when the chips are down given he was a member of Parliament for three different parties: New Zealand First, Mauri Pacific and the National Party.
Bayden Barber, spokesman for the National Iwi Chairs Forum, has also requested a meeting with Te Pāti Māori in an attempt to facilitate conversations and resolutions.
It’s the latest chapter in a saga that’s veering between Shakespearean and soap opera. With Rawiri vague-posting Games of Thrones memes on Instagram stories like a teenage girl and Debbie away surfing in Hawaii, who knows what will happen next.
But on a serious note, for all their talk of “mana motuhake,” TPM increasingly looks like it’s run for the benefit of one man and perhaps a few favoured relatives. The party that claimed to speak for its people currently can’t even speak to each other.
National trips on its own shoelaces
You’d think National might just sit back and enjoy Labour’s bumbling, the Greens’ insanity, and TPM’s implosion, but no. They have forgotten the rule to never interrupt your opponent when they’re making a mistake. Instead, they decided to star in their own mini-scandal.
You may recall Andrew Bayly resigned from Cabinet in February over an alleged “incident” in which he touched a staffer on the arm in an “animated discussion”. He had recently had a telling off for getting tipsy at a winery in Marlborough and engaging in banter that a clearly politically oppositional staff member did not appreciate.
Well, it turns out no complaint was ever laid by the staff member whose arm he has meant to have touched. Furthermore, it now appears Bayly was stitched up by the Prime Ministers Office and Department of Internal Affairs as they told him the allegations made against him had been corroborated by three people. Bayly says this is what convinced him to resign despite being baffled as to how his recollection of the encounter was so different to the trio of unnamed witnesses. It hadn’t been corroborated.
This smells like an inside job. A hit. And Bayly wants justice. He has a King’s Council on the case and has written to Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche. But Roche has opted not to launch an independent investigation into the matter as requested by Bayly and so justice now plays out in the media.
Understandably Bayly wants the record set straight, telling media: “You spend your lifetime trying to build up a reputation, and to see it taken down in a 6-minute meeting ... is pretty devastating.”
Luxon (probably a prime suspect in this political hit) simply said Andrew Bayly did the right thing resigning in February and affirmed he would have sacked him anyway.
Spin machine spits out a dodgy endorsement for Labour’s GP/CGT policy
RNZ earned itself a dishonourable mention this week after running a headline suggesting the Royal NZ College of GPs backed Labour’s tax plan to fund GP visits. In reality, they’d criticised the idea as another short-term patch job that ignores the real issues of workforce shortages and clinic closures.
This kind of framing isn’t new, but I was disappointed because I had told at least three people this week that I thought their reporting was improving. Ah, the folly of hope! The taxpayer-funded broadcaster couldn’t resist a lie-of-omission headline in order to provide some validation for what was clearly a shoddy policy leak/announcement.
Further down in the article the criticism from the College of GPs revealed how dodgy it was to suggest they had thrown support behind it:
However, [Dr Luke] Bradford said the biggest concern was that GPs are not going to have the capacity to deal with the increased demand for people to see their doctors more often.
“Currently we can’t meet the demand that’s already there. We’re struggling to recruit and retain our healthcare teams and there is nothing in this policy that states specifically how we will manage that, how we will bring more doctors and nurses into the workforce to see these patients.”
The man formally known as Prince: Andrew Mountbatten Windsor
His Majesty’s final comment about the victims of the abuse make it clear the monarchy are not allowing Andrew to hide behind them any longer.
The statement from Buckingham Palace in full:
His Majesty has today initiated a formal process to remove the style, titles and honours of Prince Andrew.
Prince Andrew will now be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor.
His lease on Royal Lodge has, to date, provided him with legal protection to continue in residence.
Formal notice has now been served to surrender the lease and he will move to alternative private accommodation.
These censures are deemed necessary, notwithstanding the fact that he continues to deny the allegations against him.
Their Majesties wish to make clear that their thoughts and utmost sympathies have been, and will remain with, the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.
Our youngest MP makes Times Magazine’s influential list
Amid the political carnage in her party, our youngest MP had a big week. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke made Time Magazine’s “Next 100” list for her “influential leadership.”
It cannot be denied that her haka in Parliament was a moment. The world was enchanted by the theatrics of it, but without the wider political context assigned more to her role in it. In reality, she was a performer directed by the older members of her party.
From what I have heard she has considerable potential as a politician and carries herself with grace despite the dramas she is embroiled in. But she is young and has a lot of growing to do. I hope she will have many opportunities to lead and influence in the future, but question whether she has been really able to do so just yet.
Amid the political carnage in her party, our youngest MP had a big week. Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke made Time Magazine’s “Next 100” list for her “influential leadership.”
It cannot be denied that her haka in Parliament was a moment. The world was enchanted by the theatrics of it, but without the wider political context assigned more to her role in it. In reality, she was a performer directed by the older members of her party.
From what I have heard she has considerable potential as a politician and carries herself with grace despite the dramas she is embroiled in. But she is young and has a lot of growing to do. I hope she will have many opportunities to lead and influence in the future, but question whether she has been really able to do so just yet.
Hana-Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke looked stunning at the Time Magazine event. Photo / Michael Loccisano, Getty Images
Bill Gates with the plot twist
File this under “unexpected plot twists.” Bill Gates, long-time climate alarmist and finger-pointer, now says climate change won’t “end humanity.”
The same man who spent years warning about climate apocalypse is suddenly talking about adaptation and pragmatism. Maybe he’s just realised that moralising doesn’t generate clean energy. Gates says in a new memo:
There’s a doomsday view of climate change that goes like this:
In a few decades, cataclysmic climate change will decimate civilization. The evidence is all around us—just look at all the heat waves and storms caused by rising global temperatures. Nothing matters more than limiting the rise in temperature.
Fortunately for all of us, this view is wrong. Although climate change will have serious consequences—particularly for people in the poorest countries—it will not lead to humanity’s demise.
The war over New Zealand’s education system
The new curriculum, which Education Minister Erica Stanford says is knowledge-rich, literacy-focused, and unapologetically designed to reverse years of dumbing down, has predictably enraged the teachers’ unions and edu-activists.
The new curriculum, which Education Minister Erica Stanford says is knowledge-rich, literacy-focused, and unapologetically designed to reverse years of dumbing down, has predictably enraged the teachers’ unions and edu-activists.
Cartoon from The Centrist
Porirua principal Lynda Knight-de Blois’ hyperbolic comments in The Post reveal how silly and ideological the sector has become. In horror, she pointed out that of 82 scientists referenced in the new science curriculum, 75 were “predominantly dead white men.” She is also horrified that spiritual Māori health frameworks are no longer front and centre in the health curriculum. Meanwhile, Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa chief executive Jackie Edmond complained:
“there is almost no information on sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex variation. Omitting these topics means that young people miss out on critical skills and knowledge to understand themselves…”
Leanne Otene, president of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation, said:
“When a curriculum loses its focus on inclusion, wellbeing, and culturally sustaining practice, it’s our students who suffer.”
One might question if a curriculum that draws such scorn from people who have been involved in the nose-dive education standards have taken in recent years, might be the exact thing Kiwi kids need.
New Zealand Police in desperate need of clean-up
Public trust in the police has taken a hit with revelations this week showing more than 100 officers are being investigated after faking 30,000 breath tests. A memo sent to police staff earlier this month said:
“From the audit which covered over 4.6 million breath tests performed between 1 July 2024 and 17 August 2025, the initial analysis suggested there were tests conducted that were simulated without the involvement of a driver.”
Then there are an unknown number of police staff now under scrutiny for “internet use”. Radio NZ report:
Police will not say how many staff are under investigation following an audit of staff internet usage, sparked by the resignation of former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
When the people enforcing the law start bending it, you have a cultural problem, not just a staffing one. And to be fair to Police Commissioner Richard Chambers who has shown he knows a clean-out is necessary, the rot seems to have come from the time of his predecessor Andrew Coster.
In 2021, the Independent Police Conduct Authority published its 115-page report, Bullying, Culture and Related Issues in New Zealand Police, which described a culture of intolerance of questioning or dissent; favouritism and protectionism; marginalisation and ostracism; abuse and intimidatory conduct; sexist and racist behaviour; inappropriate office culture, and lack of empathy and caring.
The darling of global elites being touted as potential next UN Secretary General
Jacinda Ardern is reportedly being floated as a possible next UN Secretary-General; a rumour that is so very classic of our time of global elites failing upwards.
The international elite still adore her, of course. She’s their perfect symbol: emotive, moralising, fluent in the language of “kindness”. Never mind that she left behind a trail of struggles including a housing crisis, record debt, and a deeply divided New Zealand.
Meanwhile, in New Zealand, she graces the front of the latest Women’s Day magazine which means it is an excellent time to be the company who took advertising on the back cover. #TurnArdern is back in full swing.
For someone who claimed to want privacy, she’s doing a hell of a job staying in the spotlight.
Charts of the week from Charted Daily
September data from NZ Police shows reported crime victimisations continue to fall year-on-year. Burglary and robbery victimisations over the past four months were the lowest since 2020 (when they dropped off during the Covid lockdowns).
Click to view
The average household is now paying 14% less in interest payments than a year ago - the biggest annual fall since 2009. The rollercoaster in household interest payments over the past five years has been crazy (especially the peak increase of 45% in late 2022).
Click to view
In short - other stuff that happened:
- The Auckland bus driver who was killed in a fiery crash on Tamaki Drive last week has been named as Sean Cleary, 61, who told his family that driving buses was “the best job he ever had”.
- A new government deal confirmed the Streamlined Planning Process that will be used for Auckland Council’s new housing plan, known as Plan Change 120 (PC120), giving faster approval paths for major housing projects.
- 🇹🇴 Three weeks until the Tongan election. Ordinary voters will elect 17 people’s representatives while the nobles will choose nine of their own, together forming the kingdom’s parliament.
- Former Green Party MP Aaryn Barlow dodged jail after being convicted over a large-scale cannabis grow operation. The judge called it a “one-off mistake.” The scale suggested more of a business plan.
- New Wellington Mayor Andrew Little is already pitching a bed tax and a shake-up of the Golden Mile because a city that has hospitality businesses shutting down all over the place needs nothing more than a new tax and roadworks.
- Thomas Ryan, 24, secretly filmed sex with a 19-year-old woman without consent and shared it with more than 30 people in a group chat has avoided prison. He was sentenced to nine months’ supervision, counselling, and to pay $3000 to the survivor.
- 🇦🇷 Argentina’s Javier Milei’s libertarian party scored a decisive victory in Argentina’s mid-term elections, securing over 40% of the vote and strengthening his mandate to push through free-market reforms.
- The government has announced the creation of our first charter school specifically for secondary students with autism, operated by Autism NZ and opening in Term 3 with campuses in Wellington and Auckland serving 96 students initially.
- Health NZ says only 68.4% of Māori two-year-olds are fully immunised (82% for two-year-olds in general), well below the 95% herd-immunity threshold. I wonder what might have caused such a drop in trust in vaccines.
- The Director-General of Health has written to Ministers and agencies making it clear that keeping kids in school must be a priority, while tackling the measles outbreak.
- A severe wind storm battered New Zealand, with gusts up to 150 km/h, major flight cancellations, power outages and roads shut across large swathes of the South Island.
- A Malaysian renewable-energy company, Yinson Renewables, is set to invest in New Zealand wind-power projects totalling about 1 GW, nearly doubling the country’s current wind capacity.
- Hauraki District Council is cracking down on “out-of-town dumpers” at its Waihi tip, introducing number-plate recognition and heavier charges after discovering around half the users don’t pay local rates.
- The new NorthTec campus in Whangārei (formerly the institute) is cutting around 58 full-time roles as part of a shake-up to secure its future.
- New Zealand journalist Bevan Hurley, with The Times of London, was duped after emailing who he thought was former New York mayor Bill de Blasio. He published quotes criticising candidate Zohran Mamdani from a man who was never mayor but had the same name.
Stuff I found interesting this week:
The Waitangi Tribunal’s new report on citizenship raises significant constitutional questions. It argues that New Zealand’s citizenship law fails to recognise Māori as tangata whenua and recommends creating a “tikanga pathway” to citizenship, extending citizenship by descent for Māori only, and requiring the Act to give effect to Treaty principles. While the intent may be to preserve cultural connection for Māori born overseas, these recommendations represent a profound shift in how citizenship, the most fundamental expression of equality in a democracy, is understood. The question now is whether our legal system should differentiate rights and obligations based on ancestry, or whether citizenship should remain a single, equal status shared by all New Zealanders.
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.
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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