Matua Kahurangi: Infinite Indians - An open deal with no plan

While the rest of us were just trying to get on with life and our mainstream media were busy hurling homophobic slurs, our spineless politicians quietly sold the farm. They have locked New Zealand into a so-called trade deal that will reshape this country for decades. Almost no one in the press had the balls to ask the bleeding obvious questions.

Thank God for Winston Peters, who is actually doing his job.

Bruce Cotterill: Christopher Luxon leadership - Why the ‘Flakey Five’ coup fizzled fast

We could learn a lot from the animal kingdom.

I remember a university discussion about leadership which referred to the behaviours of buffalo when moving as a pack.

When the herd is on the move the strongest bulls run at the front and on the flanks, forming a protective shield to safeguard the herd. Other strong bulls watch over the stragglers at the back and make sure that none are left behind. The goal is always in the best interests of the herd.

Kerre Woodham: The country we want costs more than we're willing to pay

The topic of tax has been in the news recently and it will stay in the news. It’s set to become an election issue with one of the few policies that Labour's actually committed to being a Capital Gains Tax – possibly more taxation/revenue measures. Watch the politicians dance on the head of a pin in the lead up to the election. The Fitch report, which looks at New Zealand's ability to pay its bills, said that a Labour Party coalition with the Greens and Te Pāti Māori would emphasise revenue measures as a means of making ends meet. The authors of the report said the National Party-led coalition would focus on expenditure constraint. There's been all sorts of argy bargy and we can go into that a little bit later, but already, even when we start talking about tax and about Labour introducing a Capital Gains Tax and more tax, it's said like it's a bad thing. Like it's a dreadful thing to contemplate more tax.

JC: Luxon Has to Turn the Ship Around

Christopher Luxon survived a caucus vote he himself initiated. The obvious aim was an attempt to put the matter to bed/rest. I doubt that has happened. Put plainly, the matter is on bed rest. Peters thinks that it was a bad idea and National is looking increasingly like a party that has lost its way. It has certainly lost the support of a significant percentage of its voter base.

Nicholas Kerr: Alienation and the Failure of MMP

Bryce Edwards’ column on New Zealand’s growing “alienated” class raises an important issue. The numbers are striking: more than a quarter of the country feels politically disconnected, and nearly half believe the system needs major change or replacement.

That is not noise. It is a flashing red light.

David Farrar: Why does the left take over and destroy once great institutions

The Southern Poverty Law Centre used to be a great institution. It used to be a major foe of the KKK and did a great job. But it has now morphed into a radical left group that classified almost anyone in the right as an extremist.

As a university student I was a huge supporter and member of Amnesty International. They stood up for political prisoners everywhere. Now they are extremely selective with their campaigns, and have widened their sphere to much wider political issues.

Dr Don Brash: Instead of fixing the RMA, Govt is perfecting the machinery of division

The following is written in Don's capacity as Hobson's Pledge Trustee.

A few weeks ago, Hobson’s Pledge sent the Government an Official Information Act (OIA) request concerning the Gore District Plan and its requirement that farmers and those using the land must assess their use against Ngāi Tahu's cultural values, such as mauri, wairua, whakapapa, and utu.

Mike's Minute: The free trade deal should be celebrated

The greatest sadness of the India Free Trade Deal, for me to this point, is that the rhetoric has not paid due respect to where free trade basically began.

New Zealand.

We are the pioneers. Well, the modern pioneers.

 Thursday April 30, 2026 

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NZCPR Newsletter: Voter Sentiment

New Zealand heads toward the 2026 election facing three interconnected difficulties that are shaping voter sentiment: a deepening cost‑of‑living crisis, a perception of political instability within the governing coalition, and unresolved attacks on our constitutional integrity through co‑governance.

Anglo Saxon: New Zealand Local Government Democracy In Decline

In this episode of the Anglo Saxon show the Far North Council controversy. What's really going in local body government . How is this happening and what needs to be done to fix it. Cameron Luxton responds to questions about his bill and the other methods that the left are using to misappropriate public assets and resources.

Click to view

Ryan Bridge: Winston was always going to turn on Luxon

This was always going to happen - the closer you get to the election, the more your friends become your enemies under MMP.

Winston's office released OIA docs showing Luxon's people wanted to go further in supporting Trump's war in Iran.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: TVNZ crossed a line with their handling of Maiki Sherman

From the commentary I’m seeing online, it’s clear there is a perception that no one reported on the Maiki Sherman revelation because the media were protecting one of their own.

I can tell you that perception is true. It’s not imagined - it is true.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 26.4.26

Thursday April 30, 2026 

News:
Ngāi Tahu calls for controversial Central Otago gold mine to be rejected
Strong concerns have again been raised by iwi regarding a large gold mine in Central Otago proposed by Australian company Santana Minerals.

At a hearing of the Fast-track expert panel in Dunedin on Tuesday, Kā Rūnaka, made up of four rūnaka representing southern Ngāi Tahu hapū, said they opposed the controversial project in its present form.

Geoff Parker: ANZAC Day Is About Service — Not Cultural Drift

ANZAC Day exists for a clear purpose: to honour those who served and those who died in war. It is not a general cultural showcase, nor a platform for modern identity signalling.

The historical record matters.

Pee Kay: The more things change, the more they stay the same!

Once again we find we been badly let down by National. Chris Luxon’s assurances to reign in co-governance were nothing but hollow promises!

The Democracy Action newsletter from earlier this month proves voters have been treated as “suckers” by Luxon/National because they are allowing local bodies to firmly embed co-governance into new water management structures!

“…will ensure that drinking water, stormwater and wastewater remain in local control.” was nothing but political duplicity and political double speak!

John McLean: Who's The Racist-est?

Would the real racist please stand up

On 20 April, New Zealand First Government Minister Shane Jones warned of a potential “butter chicken tsunami” coming to New Zealand.

Butter chicken curry (Murgh Makhani) was invented in the 1950s at Delhi’s Moti Mahal restaurant, by a couple of Punjabi chefs. But Matua Jones wasn’t referring to a tidal wave carrying curry to New Zealand. Jones was referring to the prospect of a figurative tide of ethnic Indians emigrating from India to New Zealand as a result of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) about to be entered into between New Zealand and India. The FTA will provide for increased immigration from India.

Dr Bryce Edwards: Democracy Briefing - Sleepwalking into the worst crisis since Covid

“Thought Covid was bad? If New Zealand runs out of diesel, Covid will look like the rehearsal.” That line from Matthew Hooton in the Herald this morning lands like a slap. Not because it’s designed to alarm, but because Hooton is making a precise argument, not a rhetorical one. During the pandemic, the circulatory system of the economy kept pumping. He explains today that trucks still delivered to supermarkets, harvesters still picked crops, milk tankers still collected from farms, and ambulances still ran. None of that is guaranteed now.

David Harvey: The Art of Not Deciding

Why New Zealand — a small, connected, relatively wealthy democracy — consistently fails to move from idea to action, and what that paralysis is really protecting.

There is a particular kind of meeting that haunts New Zealand’s public and private sectors alike. Everyone is present. The problem is well understood. A solution has been proposed. And then, with great efficiency, the meeting produces not a decision but a process: a working group, a further review, a consultation round. The project does not die. It simply becomes harder to find.

Dr Michael Johnston: Universities’ approach to Treaty at odds with academic freedom

New Zealand’s university leaders seem restless. In recent months, Massey, Victoria, Canterbury and Auckland Universities have all advertised for new Vice Chancellors (VCs).

Along with the things one might expect in a VC, like an outstanding academic record and experience in senior management, the jobs ads all emphasise Treaty of Waitangi considerations. The Massey ad says that ‘Te Tiriti principles are central to its governance and operations.’ Canterbury University wants its new VC to ‘embed Te Tiriti principles across all aspects of university life.’ The University of Auckland claims that ‘a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi is fundamental to its future direction.’