NZCPR Newsletter: Dismantling Separatism

In his 1985 book Shadows Over New Zealand, the former Communist Geoff McDonald revealed how the Maori Sovereignty movement was using Marxist strategies to gain power:

“Marxists understand that the key to destabilising New Zealand is to show how badly the Maori is treated. The big lie must be built up, until enough people believe it to enable the damage to be done.

“There is no Maori oppression at all. But that would not stop them from going ahead with their propaganda. Facts or truth have no relevance to Marxism. Anything can be said to help create the conditions amenable to the collapse of society. However absurd or grotesque the charges being made against white New Zealanders, if they are not answered they will be believed.”

That’s exactly how it played out. Over decades, separatists have gained positions of power and influence through division and deceit.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Why aren't these leaders willing to properly help Zelenskyy?

So if anything, tonight's meeting at the White House is actually more important than Saturday's meeting was in Alaska - because this is the meeting with Zelenskyy.

This is the meeting where the guy who has been invaded has to spell out how much land he is prepared to give up to Putin. And that is a lot harder than what happened in Alaska, which was just Putin laying down his dream scenario.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 17.8.25

Tuesday August 19, 2025 

News:
Supreme Court sends shudder through Government
A Supreme Court judgement on the Treaty of Waitangi and rivers has sent a shudder through the Government, with Ministers scrambling to try and understand its implications.

Kerre Woodham: Can Kiwis be swayed to support Nuclear Power?

It seems hard to believe, but the Maxim Institute reckons New Zealand can lead the world in sustainable AI infrastructure. They warn, however, that the window of opportunity is closing quickly because everybody wants to be in on it.

Every other country wants the rewards that come from hooking their carriages to the AI machine, the choices we make now will determine whether New Zealand becomes a leader in the AI economy or is stuck in competing for the rats and mice that are left.

Damien Grant: We cannot move the dial in Gaza - but here’s where NZ can make a difference

“He’s lost the plot,” Christopher Luxon claimed of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, jumping onto what he assumed would be a stable bandwagon of international criticism of Netanyahu’s recent plans to consolidate Israeli control over Gaza.

Well. This earned a brilliant rebuke from Israeli foreign minister Sharren Haskel, who remarked that our biggest threat is a possum. And in response Luxon took on the appearance of this marsupial when confronted with headlights and muttered that she was entitled to her opinion.

DTNZ: Zelensky rejects Trump’s push for peace deal

The Ukrainian leader has again claimed that a ceasefire is needed to negotiate an end to the conflict with Russia.

Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has rejected US President Donald Trump’s call for a peace deal between Moscow and Kiev, reiterating that a truce has to be implemented before discussing details of a possible settlement.

Bruce Cotterill: New Zealand’s perfect political storm approaches

In Sebastian Junger’s excellent portrayal of the sinking of the fishing boat, the Andrea Gail, the author outlined what he termed “The Perfect Storm”. The phrase was used to describe a unique weather event whereby a high-pressure system, a low-pressure system and a hurricane collided to create a rare and deadly series of events.

A perfect storm of political proportions has gained momentum over the past week. In this case, the unbelievable negligence on the part of one MP, delusions of grandeur on the part of another group of our elected representatives, and a complete accountability failure of a separate coterie of past and present parliamentarians kept the commentators and the observers guessing throughout the week.

Dr Peter Winsley: Ageing, NZS and new opportunities

The sustainability of New Zealand’s superannuation (NZS) system has long been in dispute. A recent Michael Littlewood paper based on Treasury data and OECD analyses challenges the assumption that NZS is unsustainable, given demographics.

NZS is a simple, universal scheme. This means it has low transaction costs and generates few behavioural distortions.

Kevin: You Count the Fallacies

Is this really the best the pro-Palestine side can do?

I came across this article by Herald senior journalist Audrey Young and, hoo boy, I couldn’t help but notice all the logical fallacies, including false premises. I’ve noted all the ones I’ve managed to find but feel free to add any others in the comments.

David Farrar: Maori life expectancy rising the fastest

Stats NZ have published the latest life expectancy at birth data. Here’s the increase for each ethnic and gender group from 2006 to 2023.

Owen Jennings: When Bias becomes a Dangerous Absurdity.

Editors who invite reader’s contributions usually make it clear they reserve the right to not publish any particular letter and normally they refuse to give reasons or even acknowledge receipt of a letter.

The NZ Herald has that policy. It’s a rather arrogant policy if letters sent in for publication are reasonable, not offensive or contrary to law. A media outlet that claims to have influence and status might relish a healthy debate, a robust challenge or comments that reflect widely held opinions in the community.

Mike's Minute: How did RNZ not know about this already?

You may have read a report commissioned by Radio NZ to look into why their operation has become such a dumpster fire.

It said a bunch of stuff that was obvious. One thing that surprised and saddened me though was that most people within that organisation thought radio was dying and audiences were bailing.

Monday August 18, 2025 

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Ian Bradford: Should We Put Any Trust in the IPCC?

The IPCC, (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), was formed in 1988 as the mouthpiece of the United Nations (UN), on climate change. The IPCC advises most governments on aspects of climate change, with a fixation on anthropogenic global warming which was changed to climate change to cover everything. Hardly any government bothers to check what the IPCC puts out to them. Governments take the words of the IPCC as gospel.

Pee Kay: Has there ever been a political clique more deserving of disdain and denigration?

Why would any well-balanced, rational person enter a polling booth, sometime around late October, 2026, ballot paper clutched in hand, place the ballot paper on the shelf, pick up the big orange felt pen, look at the sheet and even consider, even for a split second, putting a tick in any circle marked LABOUR PARTY?

Ryan Bridge: The Gen Z stare

I went out for lunch to a cafe the other day and our table was served by a couple of waiters who all seemed to have a similar vibe about them.

They just. Did. Not. Seem. To. Care.

No smiling. No banter. No small talk or polite conversation.

Ani O'Brien: What ANZ's Sharon Zollner said about the economy

I went along to the Women Mean Business event at Perch in Britomart this week, where the guest speaker was ANZ’s Chief Economist, Sharon Zollner. She’s one of those rare economists who can tell you the truth without either sugar-coating it or descending entirely into doom and gloom. Her diagnosis of New Zealand’s current situation was clear: we’re in a stop/start recovery. The economy is sputtering along, lurching between brief moments of momentum and a lot of grind.

Duggan Flanakin: Russia flexing nuclear energy muscles in Africa

Through its state-owned nuclear energy company Rosatom, Russia under Vladimir Putin has extended its tentacles deep into Africa. Early in this century, Russia began escalating its outreach, offering its significant expertise in nuclear energy to emerging African nations eager to utilize the continent’s ample uranium resources to power their futures.

Dave Patterson: Trump and Putin Are Talking – But Are They Making Progress?

Not since 2015 has Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the United States.

The much-anticipated talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin finally happened. The Russian leader’s Ilyushin IL-96 aircraft touched down at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, about 30 minutes after Trump’s Air Force One landed on Friday, August 15. The pair of aircraft sat side-by-side as the two world leaders disembarked and walked red carpets to meet in front of Air Force One. As they moved to a low dais, Putin and Trump walked past F-22 Raptors, stealthy air superiority fighter aircraft, just as a B-2 Spirit strategic bomber with an F-22 and F-35 Lightning II escort flew over. Putin could not help looking up. It was pure pageantry to be sure – a pageant of power.

Dr James Kierstead: Grade expectations

‘Every five years or so, I crunch the numbers on college grades across the US and report what I’ve found,’ writes Stuart Rojstaczer modestly on his website.

What Rojstaczer, a former professor, has found is that grades are going up, and have been going up for quite some time. Until the 1960s, only around 20% of grades awarded at US colleges were As. The most common grade was a C.