Mike's Minute: We need to break this stereotype in NZ

Here is a stereotype we have to break, especially given the solution is now available.

There was a young woman in her 20s, in the beauty industry, training as a nurse and will go into the private sector. She has a plan and good on her.

As part of this particular conversation though, she says she can never see herself owning a house.

Thursday September 10, 2026 

                   ⇩

Anglo Saxon: New Zealand democracy's biggest threat - The tribal aristocracy

In this episode, insight into constitutional changes wanted by the neo-rangatira class maori. The false claim of a treaty partnership and the attempt to impose an upper house of unelected rangatira maoris; with the right to veto our democratically elected Parliament.

Click to view

Ryan Bridge: Cutting red tape by adding complexity

Do we really need a Minister of booze?

Back in the good old days, they were all Ministers of booze. The whole cabinet. Especially Robert Muldoon.

But the idea that we need a Minister responsible for Alcohol is well-intentioned, like all 80-odd portfolios that reviews and recommendations have created.

Perspective with Andrew Dickens: These MSD stats are nothing to be proud of

The One News Thomas Mead demolition derby this week has been on the MSD. It's led their news.

Thomas has breathlessly reported after an inquiry under the Official Information Act revealed a number of rejections of Special Needs Grants for urgent and essential emergency costs. The inquiry found these rejections were increasing, and more than 8000 people were declined on the basis food was deemed 'non-essential'.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 6.9.26

Thursday September 10, 2026 

News:
Construction of Waiouru Defence Force homes to begin
The New Zealand Defence Force and local iwi Ngāti Rangi have today signed an agreement enabling the construction of 50 new homes at Waiouru Military Camp to begin, Defence Minister Paul Goldsmith says.

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 

                   ⇩

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.

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.