Ani O'Brien: The media isn't reporting on TOP's rise, they are creating it

How the media creates political momentum

Political momentum is one of the most powerful forces in politics. Voters are heavily influenced by ‘social proof’ which is the psychological phenomenon where people copy the actions of others to validate their own behaviour. People want to support parties that appear viable and relevant. Therefore, a party that is constantly discussed in the media acquires a kind of legitimacy simply through repetition. People hear its leader interviewed, see its policies analysed, watch journalists speculate about its prospects, and begin to regard it as a serious political force. This creates a self-fulfilling prophecy where media attention generates awareness, awareness generates support (or opposition), support (or opposition) generates further media attention, and the party gains momentum.

Dr Eric Crampton: Guardrails for a Compulsory KiwiSaver

If re-elected, National would make KiwiSaver contributions compulsory from 2028, with employers and employees each contributing 6 percent by 2032.

 
That compulsion requires guardrails, according to a research note published today by The New Zealand Initiative's Chief Economist Dr Eric Crampton.

Kerre Woodham: Is it time to take a look at our right to silence?

Far North Police say they're being met with a wall of silence nearly two months on from a hit and run that killed an 18 year old dirt bike rider. Jahkani Hamilton was found dead about 10pm between Kaikohe and Moerewa on May 1st. Police say an associate of his was found seriously injured nearby – he'd also been knocked off a dirt bike. Police are being stymied by witnesses and their supporters choosing to say nothing and actively resisting the investigation. They say the silence is hugely frustrating for the police investigators and for the boy's grieving whānau, and that their investigations are being hindered.

Bob Edlin: Article Disappears To Protect Maori From Harm

Shazam – and an article disappears from NZ psychology journal to protect Maori from harm

A Maori psychologist’s peer-reviewed paper has been removed from her profession’s journal on the grounds that– wait for it – keeping it accessible could harm Māori.

David Farrar: France says US is surrendering too quickly!

Reuters reports:

“The return for major concessions that will be ⁠asked of Iran is the lifting of sanctions, sanctions that were taken at the United Nations,” Barrot said, referring to a vote in September last year.

As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, France holds the power to veto any accords.

Mike's Minute: The only winner of the political polls

The only winner out of political polls is the media for the simple reason it gives them a chance to pontificate and clickbait.

"Luxon fronts media after bad poll”.

Why is that the headline as opposed to "Hipkins answers questions after poll collapse"?

Friday June 26, 2026 

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Ryan Bridge: The problem with Tama Potaka's conservation bill

Most kiwis have an environmental bent to them that most of the rest of the western world just doesn't have. At least, not to the same extent.

Most people, left and right, use the outdoors here. We have quite a close relationship to it.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Did the Government botch their conservation announcement?

National probably has the right intention with underused conservation land but they completely botched the communication of the plan and its implications.

There’s a little bit of green in every New Zealander - and I could not agree with that more.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 21.6.26

Friday June 26, 2026 

News:
Rotorua seeks answers on Māori wards as six council merger options considered
Rotorua Lakes Council is seeking urgent clarification from the Government over the future of its Māori ward if local government reforms were to lead to the creation of a new unitary authority.

Paterson said millions of dollars had been spent nationally on referendums after legislation required councils to put Māori wards to voters.

John Robertson: The Secular State Under Seige

We are bearing witness to a profound, state-sponsored betrayal of the secular contract, a calculated metaphysical coup where a gutless managerial elite has allowed Māori spiritual beliefs to aggressively colonize our legal system, our policy frameworks, and our classrooms under the dishonest camouflage of "culture." Let’s drop the polite, cowardly euphemisms and name the rot with absolute precision: by embedding explicitly theological concepts like tikanga, wairua, and mauri into central government statutes, local regulations, and corporate policy frameworks, the state has established a toxic, selective soft theocracy.

John McLean: Immigration Biometric Project Exposed

On 16 June 2026, Minister of Immigration Erica Stanford angrily highlighted that the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) has repeatedly and deliberately misled her about an information technology project purporting to improve biometric capability at Immigration New Zealand. Immigration NZ is part of MBIE. The project, which wasted at least $38 million of public money in less than 10 years, has been abandoned after achieving nothing.

Mike's Minute: Why hasn't fast-track helped the Port of Tauranga?

Let me ask you this: if fast-track is the answer, then why do we still have the Port of Tauranga problems?

Surely I don’t need to go through the fine detail of what is one of this country's most embarrassing modern travesties.

David Harvey: A Regulator's Impulse

Hasten Slowly on Social Media Restrictions

This article is a companion piece to that entitled “A Regulator’s Reflex” which can be found here. It deals with the issue of social media access restrictions and explains the danger inherent in the proposition - to paraphrase an old saying - “Legislate in haste; repent at leisure”

Stuff reported on 16 June some interesting comments by Education Minister Erica Stanford, who now seems to be leading the charge for what has been described as a social media ban for under 16 year olds.

Dr Kumari Valentine: NZCCP Sets a Precedent of Censorship

When a professional body removes a peer-reviewed article because it conflicts with organisational values, the issue is no longer a single publication, but the future of open inquiry, editorial independence, and professional disagreement.

A few days ago, members of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists (NZCCP) received an email informing them that a published article (He Wero Ano: Don't Just Tell Me, Show Me How Science and Psychology Are Racist in New Zealand by A. Mitchell) had been removed from the Journal of the New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists. This article had been submitted in 2024 and been peer reviewed and then published in later 2025.

Ashley Church: Are we sliding towards civil war?

Warning signs from an unexpected source

Spend enough time on social media and it’s hard not to conclude that a large number of people are deeply angry about the direction of Western society.

That anger is particularly obvious on the centre-right where many believe that the institutions and values which sustained the West for generations are being steadily dismantled. They see faith, family, national identity, freedom of speech and equality before the law giving way to identity politics, cultural guilt, group entitlements and an increasingly intrusive state.

Dr Oliver Hartwich: Half a Turnaround - Why ACC's recovery must be built on rehabilitation, not exits

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), which funds injured New Zealanders’ care and recovery, has halted a decade of decline. But a New Zealand Initiative report warns its recovery rests on tighter decisions and exits, not proven rehabilitation.

After years of injured people waiting longer, more getting stuck on long-term support and liabilities roughly doubling, the government ordered a review, demanded a turnaround and installed a new chair. The long-term claims pool, once growing by nearly 15 percent a year, stopped growing by April.

Kerre Woodham: How do you know what's real and what's not?

Do you know what's real and what's not when you're scrolling through your news feeds? When you're scrolling through your social media? AI generated “news” pages and political deepfake ads are swamping social media feeds. They've been around for a while, but there's more and more and more of them and they're becoming harder to detect as the technology gets more sophisticated, as people understand how to use the tools they're discovering.

David Farrar: Meet the Greens – Animal Welfare Policy

Policy No 3 is Animal Welfare. Some extracts:

• Ban cats from roaming outdoors (mandatory catios!)

• Establish a Parliamentary Commissioner of Animal Justice

Thursday June 25, 2026 

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