John McLean: The Pravda Post

The paper propagandizing for a New Zealand neo-Marxist Government in waiting

Pravda was the official newspaper of the Soviet Union’s Communist Party. Although Pravda means “Truth” in the Russian language, the Pravda newspaper wasn’t about truth. Quite the opposite. It was propaganda for the Soviet regime.

Lindsay Mitchell: RNZ catches up on news reported here over a month ago

Today RNZ catches up on news reported here over a month ago.

Why has it taken RNZ so long to catch up with the latest benefit numbers? Given the numbers are well up, it's right in their wheelhouse for pushing their anti-government agenda.

Colinxy: The Tyranny of the Motivated Minority - Why Moderates Don’t Drive History

Political culture loves its comforting myths, and none is more persistent than the idea that moderates hold the real power. We’re told that the “sensible centre” keeps society stable, that the majority reins in the extremes, and that the middle ground is where history is written.

But the evidence — historical, psychological, and empirical — points in the opposite direction.

Dr Oliver Hartwich: Voters will decide whether to punch holes in Europe’s nuclear umbrella

While American and Israeli jets were bombing Tehran last Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron stood before nuclear submarines at the Île Longue naval base in Brittany. He announced that France would extend its nuclear umbrella across Europe.

America had launched a major war without consulting its NATO allies. British bases in Bahrain, Qatar and Cyprus were hit by Iranian retaliation, even though London had refused to support the operation.

Alwyn Poole: Why governing for the whole nation – and respect for every voter – counts.

The vote of an 18 year old deliquent in New Zealand is as important as that of Willy Apiata.

Anyone who wants to be in government and succeed in their ministerial portfolios needs to respect every voter and all of those who cannot vote – primarily children.

Mike's Minute: My observations on the Covid Inquiry

Some simple observations on part two of the Covid Inquiry.

1) It's cheaper than the British equivalent finished last week that cost over half a billion dollars.

2) It says pretty much what you thought it would.

William McGimpsey: The Genealogy of Neutrality

This essay examines the evolution of the concept of “neutrality” as it applies to the central institutions of liberal democracies. The paper argues that neutrality is a contested concept, that over time competing conceptions of it have arisen within liberal societies, and that those societies have evolved towards an internal balance of power between them across their institutions.

Deboragh Palma: Brazil at a Historical Crossroads

Corruption, taxes, and authoritarian labor shackles.

Brazil finds itself at a historical crossroads that demands a rigorous analysis of its institutional structures. The release of the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), record-breaking data from the Impostômetro, and the persistence of an authoritarian labor framework expose a system of economic asphyxiation and moral erosion. The State, under the pretext of protecting the citizen, in reality hinders their initiative, their property, and their future.

Thursday March 12, 2026 

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Insights From Social Media: When Did Mythology Become “history”?

Tom Henry writes > This official Hawke’s Bay Regional Council placard at Waitangi Regional Park claims to present a “rich history”. What it actually presents is a mix of legend, folklore, and real historical events — all blended together as if they are the same thing.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 8.3.26

Thursday March 12, 2026 

News:
Urgent Waitangi Tribunal inquiry into government's removal of schools' Treaty obligations
The Waitangi Tribunal has granted urgency to an inquiry into the government's decision to scrap school boards' legal duty to give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and reset Te Mātaiaho, the New Zealand Curriculum.

Geoff Parker: How Treaty Requirements Quietly Spread Through New Zealand’s Institutions

If most New Zealanders were asked when Treaty obligations began influencing professional life, many would assume it happened recently. The reality is quite different. What we are seeing today is the result of a gradual institutional expansion that has been unfolding for nearly forty years.

These developments are documented in statutes, court decisions, and the public charters of professional and educational bodies across New Zealand.

The starting point was the 1987 Court of Appeal decision in New Zealand Māori Council v Attorney-General (1987), commonly known as the Lands case. In that decision the court ruled that the Crown must act consistently with the “principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.” That phrase – “Treaty principles” – became the mechanism through which Treaty considerations began to play a larger role in New Zealand law and public administration.

Penn Raine: Where are the spads when Chris Luxon needs them?

In the country formerly known as NZ there are no official spads or special advisors as there are in Britain.

The spad is an unelected position made by government ministers or local councils whose appointee will tell bosses what they want to hear and generally confirm all their prejudices. They are allegedly of a different stripe from the civil service which my sources amusingly describe as ‘neutral’ and unlikely to have political bias.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: The pressure's on for the primary teachers' union

I think we can quite accurately use the word 'brilliant' to describe the latest move from the Government’s man in the primary teachers’ pay negotiations.

Brian Roche, the Public Service Commissioner, has gone around the union and offered a 4.7 percent pay increase to primary teachers who are not in the union. If they agree to it, the first chunk of the pay rise will kick in 19 days from now and the next chunk will take effect in January next year.

Ani O'Brien: COVID Inquiry should raise serious questions about Chris Hipkins’ leadership

We were told “Trust the Experts.” The Report shows ministers didn’t.

It is easy in hindsight to forget the atmosphere of early 2020. It felt like COVID-19, Corona Virus as we initially called it, came out of nowhere. China was lying to everyone. No one knew if we were under or overreacting. Whatever Trump said the media said the opposite. Governments across the world were facing a virus that appeared highly contagious, poorly understood, and potentially catastrophic. “Experts” were issuing advice based on incomplete data and information which politicians were then making decisions with.

Guest Post: So Maori claim to be genetically superior

A guest post on NOMINISTER by William Chambers.

The ironic claim by Te Pati Maori of genetic superiority in those of Māori lineage showed through when, in an interview on the National Radio Programme, a part-Maori woman was asked whether she would be happy for her children to marry Pakeha. This self-opinionated woman replied that it would certainly not be acceptable, because Maori bloodlines need to be kept pure!

Can you imagine if, in the same context, a Pakeha had said that on radio. All hell would have broken loose.

Peter Williams: Why can’t the public decide public interest?

The disgraceful dropping of the Te Papa vandalism case

“Not in the public interest” is one of those phrases which means essentially nothing.

It’s a cover all or more likely a cover-up on the part of the government, civil service or judiciary for a lack of action on an event that the public is actually very keen to see happen.

Kerre Woodham: Are parents restricting their kids' online access?

 

The Government is doing its bit to protect children from themselves by banning the use of smartphones during the school day and by moving to bring in legislation restricting social media use for children under 16. The schools are doing their bit, although it's more mopping up than prevention, by bringing in counsellors to help children, some as young as eight, who've been exposed to extreme online content.

JC: Media at Airport Failed To Fly

A humorous and short clip was shown on the Stuff website on Tuesday showing the predictable media scrum made up of the predictable so-called journalists at Wellington Airport lying in wait to pounce on their posse, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. They had no doubt risen early to ready themselves for this momentous moment (men smartly dressed and ladies with lipstick and powdered noses) when they could destroy the man there and then. These leftie luvvies appeared to be in a high state of excitement: salivating at the opportunity, following a bad poll, to relieve him of his prime ministership on the spot.

Bob Edlin: We should avoid talking about “tribes”.....

The challenge of trying to be inoffensive – we should avoid talking about “tribes” (but how did the Romans do it?)

PoO has been wondering about rewriting our history books for a New Zealand audience.

For example, when it comes to British history, our books say that – before the Roman invasion – Britain was a mosaic of different tribes, each with its own leaders, territory, and, in some cases, distinct customs.