David Farrar: A former TPM co-leader on TPM

Te Ururoa Flavell writes:

1. Māori Party in court with its MPs

2. Two former Māori Party candidate options have gone to Greens. There may be others.

John Phelan: US Economic Growth Looks Slow — Until You Compare It to Europe’s

Over the past decade, the United States has outperformed every other G7 nation. Key measures show why the US is not just getting bigger, but also growing richer.

Americans aren’t happy with their economy. In October, Pew Research reported that “26 percent now say economic conditions are excellent or good, while 74 percent say they are only fair or poor.” This weighs heavily on their minds. In December, Gallup reported 35 percent of Americans “naming any economic issue” as “the most important problem facing this country today,” up from 24 percent in October.

Mike's Minute: The Labour Party needs to get serious

As I watch Chris Hipkins, presumably gleefully, mess about with the India Free Trade deal, I'm reminded this is not the Labour Party that did the FTA with China.

Hipkins is no Helen Clark and in that is a great sadness.

Tom Day: Hipkins, Luxon neck and neck as preferred PM

The results are according to the Verian poll of 1003 eligible voters taken between February 7 and February 11.

Poll results below:

David Farrar: More taxpayer funded union corruption

The Taxpayers’ Union reports:

The New Zealand Taxpayers’ Union can reveal through an Official Information Act requestthat staff at the Ministry of Education were paid $414,119.68 by taxpayers to do 8,528 hours of union work.

This includes organising and advocating on behalf of the New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI), the Public Service Association (PSA) and the Association of Professional and Executive Employees (APEX).

JC: What Is Life Without a Deal?

The headline is largely the gospel according to Donald Trump. I wrote an article on this topic a few weeks ago but it is worth exploring in a broader context. His deal making is a continuing source of angst to those on the left of the political spectrum, as they don’t do deals – they wouldn’t know how. That is the stark difference between a career politician (most are on the left) running a country and someone applying a business methodology to the political process. Politics also adds in a social arm to be considered also.

Matua Kahurangi: End the Māori seats debate properly with a binding vote

New Zealand First has done something most parties are too timid to do. They’ve put a hard, controversial issue back in front of the public and said you decide.

You would have seen last week that Winston Peters announced NZ First will campaign on a referendum on the future of the Māori seats ahead of November’s general election. That matters, because for years this topic has been treated like a political no-go zone, even though plenty of ordinary Kiwis have opinions on it.

But here’s the key point. A referendum that isn’t binding is just political theatre.

Kerre Woodham: Does the End of Life Act need amending?

Act MP Todd Stephenson has been looking to improve and extend the End of Life Bill since around August of last year. His new bill, for which he's seeking support across the House or has his fingers crossed it'll be drawn from the ballot, would incorporate every single recommendation made by the Ministry of Health's review into the End of Life Choice Act. He wants to restore the original intent of David Seymour's earlier member's bill by addressing what he calls the overly restrictive six-month prognosis requirement.

Wednesday February 18, 2026 

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Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: What do the birth statistics say about our society?

You want some fascinating data about how we’ve changed in the past 60 years? Have a look at the birth statistics out today - especially the age at which mums are having babies.

Last year, 14 percent of births were to mums younger than 25. In 1995, which is just one generation ago, it was double that: 28 percent of births were to mums under 25.

Ryan Bridge: Would you pay $9 to cross the harbour bridge?

The answer depends on whether you can afford it. Congestion charging is coming and that'll add to the cost if you need to drive for work.

This is only a proposal-based on the original toll, inflation-adjusted, almost 70 years ago.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 15.2.26

Wednesday February 18, 2026 

News:
Ngāti Whātua, Ngāpuhi celebrate high court judge appointment
Justice Amokura Kawharu has today been sworn in as the first high court judge of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei and Ngāpuhi descenty.

Ngāti Whātua iwi leader Ngarimu Blair said it was a joyous occasion, and her appointment is a reflection of the foundation laid by seven generations.

Mike's Minute: This court case is outrageously political

My summation of what we have heard so far in the Judge Aitken case. The “Did I yell at and interrupt and disrupt Winston?" case.

Aitken was on the stand, so to speak, yesterday, remembering none of this is criminal.

In fact, I would describe it as outrageously political.

Pee Kay: We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it!

The big gay out, OMG!

Have a look at the “costumes” of some of the attendees. The “MC” shouts to the audience, “The ACT Party and NZ First are not attending.”

Dr Eric Crampton: Disappointment in attempt to improve competition laws

The coalition agreements that formed the government promised an important change to the Commerce Act.

The Commerce Commission has always been able to take on traditional cartel arrangements: secret agreements where businesses divvy up a market, restrict output, and raise prices. Those arrangements are rightly subject to heavy monetary penalties.

But cartels are not the only way competition gets blocked.

Bruce Cotterill: Christopher Luxon v Chris Hipkins - What voters should expect from a PM

Those who follow such matters will have noticed that the Prime Minister seems reluctant to comment on the polls.

And who can blame him? I wouldn’t want to comment either. Although my reasons may be different to his.

I’d be reluctant to comment because I can’t believe they’re accurate. Incidentally, such a comment should not be read as me questioning the pollsters. But I really have to question the people they have participating.

JD: If 3% of My DNA Is Scandinavian, Am I Norwegian?

Guest post on The Good Oil by JD

The 1961 census in New Zealand counted 167,086 people as Māori, using a criterion of at least 50 per cent Māori ancestry.

Then, in the 1986 census, the Labour Government, led by David Lange with Phil Goff as minister of statistics, introduced new rules allowing individuals to self-identify as Māori and, as a result, the recorded Māori population began to increase.

Tony Orman: The disastrous conversion of Fertile Agricultural Land into Pine Monocultures

What are the motives?

New Zealand was once a land of productive farms and independent food producers, but it is quietly – insidiously – being taken over by pine monocultures, fast growing water-sapping pine monocultures.

What lies behind the green curtain of ever-expanding pine forests energised by New Zealand’s illogical, irrational carbon trading scheme where once highly productive sheep and beef farms are planted in unmanaged, neglected forests.

David Farrar: A conservative landslide in Japan

NBC reports:

Japan’s conservative prime minister Sanae Takaichi has won a landslide victory after she gambled on a high-stakes snap election.

Takaichi, who took office in October after being elected leader of the governing Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), surpassed the 310 seats needed for a supermajority in the 465-seat lower house, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported from the official election count Sunday evening. The supermajority allows her ruling coalition to override the upper house, where it lacks a majority.

David Farrar: This is why the Govt is sidelining the Teachers’ Council

The Herald reports:

A damning review of the Teaching Council says the agency has lost focus on its core function of safeguarding children and needs transformative change to ensure it is meeting critical regulatory responsibilities. …

The report says the council is focused on “building the mana” of teachers and “being liked by the profession”.