Barrie Davis: The Littlewood Document – Draft or Back-translation?

Until recent times, there has not been identified a complete draft in English of the Treaty of Waitangi. In 1989, a previously unknown hand-written text in English of the Treaty was found at the Littlewood family home in Pukekohe. It is on paper with an 1833 watermark with the signature of Governor William Hobson and the date 4 February 1840 on the verso.

Doug Fraser: A Model for Southland Local Government Reform

This proposal has been developed in response to the current local government reform discussions in Southland and is intended as a constructive contribution to the Government’s wider reform programme.

The paper recognises that, while there may ultimately be support for a unitary council in Southland, there is currently no consensus on either the preferred governance model or the pathway for achieving it. Rather than delaying meaningful reform until agreement is reached, this proposal outlines a practical transitional model that allows operational reform to begin immediately while preserving local democratic governance.

Ani O'Brien: A week is a long time: 15 August 2026

Yes, I was in the news. Nope, wasn’t fun.

Read about it from my perspective here:

Major General John G. Howard: Nobody is planning to invade us

If nobody is planning to invade New Zealand, why would we need a defence force? So runs the logic of those questioning the decision to increase defence spending.

The awkward part: the first half is true. Nobody is planning to invade us.

Repelling invasion has never been the job. The NZDF does other work that defends our national interests.

Roger Partridge: Harmed by harm - How a word is swallowing freedom

Last month, ten organisations representing New Zealand’s ethnic, faith and multicultural communities delivered what they called an election message to the political parties: commit to new hate speech laws before New Zealanders vote. The Green Party committed to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, including extending the incitement provisions and the prohibited grounds of discrimination in the Human Rights Act to cover religion. Labour said it was considering “legislative settings” and would announce its position “in due course.” ACT, the smaller party in the governing coalition, said the existing law was adequate. National, the senior party in that coalition, said it did not support legislating against hate speech, pointing instead to its Peace and Harmony Accord with community leaders.

John Denton: Think Big 2

“We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil”, is the anthem of Australia, that modern day El Dorado, as it sings its siren song to Kiwi youth and talent.

Built on the wealth from its twin endowments of agricultural and pastoral space dozens of times larger than that of NZ, and a mineral/energy abundance where one year’s exports exceed NZ’s total GDP from all sources, how can New Zealand ever compete?

Dr Oliver Hartwich: Germany silent on suspected Russian drone attack to avoid boosting far right

Drones near airports, at least in New Zealand, are usually a nuisance rather than a threat. They are often flown by careless amateurs who have not read the rules.

What happened at Leipzig airport last Tuesday night was different. A bus driver at the East German airport noticed something hovering just above the southern runway, beside a Ukrainian cargo aircraft. He kicked it out of the air. Then he called security, and the federal police sent a robot. It found a tin can fixed to the drone with a detonator seated in its base.

Kerre Woodham: Is ACT's bed tax alternative a good option?

There's a reason that people live in cities and towns that others love to visit. Beautiful beachside resorts down south, the gorgeous, gorgeous little villages nestled under incredible mountains and natural beauty, or vibrant hotspots where there's a million things to do and a melting pot of cultures and all the places of great historical relevance as well as great beauty. Of course people are going to flock to visit them. But it does cost to provide the amenities that serve the visitors and for small cities and towns, it's a heavy, heavy burden for the ratepayer.

Bob Edlin: Mayor Brown enthuses about project to restore “mauri” to the Manukau Harbour.....

Mayor Brown enthuses about project to restore “mauri” to the Manukau Harbour – but how will he measure progress?

PoO was drawn to an article in The Post headed You can’t manage what you haven’t measured: the execution test for water reform starts now

Written by Jason Perera, APAC commercial director for Gentrack Group, the article discussed New Zealand’s water reforms as they cross from policy to practice.

Brigitte Morten - Explainer: RMA Reform - Further Changes You May Have Missed

SUMMARY

The Environment Committee reported back on RMA replacement bills, recommending some significant changes and retentions. However, this is not the end of the story. The government has signalled further significant changes for the Bills since the Committee’s report was published.

David Farrar: Hipkins announces he has discovered gravity!

The Herald reports:

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has ruled out a governing deal with New Zealand First. …

Winston has responded:

Mike's Minute: It's not the taxpayers' job to "clean up" businesses

So we have Golden Bay Cement and we have New Zealand Steel.

In their own way, both companies that make things we need as a country and would struggle without.

One of them said they would close because of the ETS cost of producing cement locally, and the other is now making steel with its renewable powered electric furnace.

Neither paid for their improvements. We did.

Is this good business?

Saturday August 15, 2026 

                   ⇩

Peter Williams: The BSA's digging its own grave

Two decisions highlight the need for its rapid disestablishment

If more evidence was needed about the relevance or irrelevance of the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) then a couple of judgements they made this week have rammed home the point.

The decision about Sean Plunket on The Platform has been widely reported and commented on.

My take is simple.

Perspective with Andrew Dickens: The story of the scapegoat

So it's the story that swamped the country this week. And since I have not been on the radio really until today, this is my first, but also my last word about it.

Despite Christopher Luxon's win, there is obviously a significant part of his team that have little confidence in him. It's strongest amongst the backbenchers who can see their list seats evaporating, but it's also present in the front bench no matter what they say. And that is on the Prime Minister. Because all coups happen when MPs lose confidence in their leaders' messaging.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 9.8.26

Saturday August 15, 2026 

News:
Chateau Tongariro revival decision may not be made before the election, documents reveal
It’s unclear if a decision on the future of Chateau Tongariro will happen before the election, with officials saying iwi has “deliberately paused” talks on the landmark.

The chateau, near Mt Ruapehu, has sat empty since closing in early 2023 because of seismic concerns.

Lindsay Mitchell: The Anxiety Epidemic

Over the last twenty years the number of people depending on a benefit due to psychological or psychiatric reasons has increased by 140 percent. Meanwhile the working age population grew by just 26 percent.

In June 2006 the number dependent was 37,300. Fast forward to June 2026 and it's 89,385.

Bruce Logan: Tell me please, what is racism?

Accused of racism, Winston Peters is under the pump again.

But what is ‘racism’ and what are we saying when we accuse somebody of it?

JC: National Has Fouled Its Nest Big Time

The grossly unedifying spectacle of a failed leadership spill the National Party has just foisted upon the public is messy and stinks to high heaven; it makes Wellington’s recent problems with a large sewage spill look like a minor event. It is likely the this whole unpalatable debacle reinforces the perception among many voters that National is not fit to run the country.

David Wojick: The UN Green Climate Fund is a wasteful fraud

The UN Green Climate Fund (GCF) is neither Green nor about climate. They are mostly just doing normal foreign aid that the donor countries would be better off doing themselves. They have received and spent over $20 billion to date, with more billions coming.

For example, they fund a lot of water supply systems in dry countries. They call it “climate change adaptation,” but it is not adaptation to climate change. It is addressing a condition that has always existed. It is fraud to call this “climate funding.” The same is true for flood protection in flood-prone areas or improving existing farms, which they also do a lot of.