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.

David Farrar: Te Pāti Māori get slaughtered by the High Court

Justice Radich has just made the following rulings:

• The suspension of Kapa-Kingi as a member of Te Pāti Māori on 23 October 2025 was in breach of the Kawa (rules) and, therefore, was unlawful.

• The expulsion of Kapa-Kingi from Te Pāti Māori or to cancel her membership in Te Pāti Māori on 9 November 2025 was in breach of the Kawa and, therefore, was unlawful.

• They must now inform the Speaker that Ms Kapa-Kingi is reinstated to Te Pāti’s parliamentary membership

Wednesday March 11, 2026 

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Ryan Bridge: Where in the world is Nikhil Ravishankar?

You've got the feel a bit for the Air New Zealand boss.

If ever there was a poisoned chalice, he's drinking from it. He's glugging it back. Drowning in it.

They've suspended their guidance after the gas price went nuts. Doubled on Iran.

Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: This Covid inquiry still matters for accountability

The big Covid inquiry - the Royal Commission of Inquiry - is out and to be honest, I don’t think it’s a game-changer.

It doesn’t tell you anything you didn’t already know or at least strongly suspect. Aucklanders, who were the most affected, lived through it.

Ryan Bridge: On oil shock, people want more self-reliance

The war in Iran is not a shocking event in the sense that we knew it was coming.

Trump has been not so much hinting, but sounding a fog horn for months. As we’ve been covering on this show, he’s been amassing military assets in the region since the end of January.

Geoff Parker: Kororareka Unmasked

On 11 March 1845, Hōne Heke and his warriors chopped down the British flagstaff at Kororāreka (officially renamed Russell in 1844) for the fourth time. Modern commemorations often frame it as a heroic stand for Māori sovereignty. But the real story is far messier.

Hōne Heke had in fact been the first chief to sign the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. His later rebellion was not triggered by some newly discovered constitutional betrayal. The immediate grievances were far more practical.

John Robertson: Army’s Bicultural Policy

The recent spectacle involving attempts to insert “bicultural doctrine” into the New Zealand Army should have been a moment of national embarrassment—and, for many people, it was.

When a military institution whose sole purpose is the defence of a modern democratic nation begins flirting with the inclusion of mythological cosmologies and spiritual frameworks as part of its internal doctrine, sensible people are naturally going to ask a very simple question: what on earth is going on? The reported pause placed on the initiative by Defence Minister Judith Collins only underscores the fact that something had clearly gone too far.

Mike's Minute: Two important points on the Luxon story

Luxon - 1, media - 0.

After no small effort on the media's part to drum up a crisis on a bad poll, there's two important points and we can put this whole nonsense to bed.

1) Luxon doesn’t have a coup brewing. Despite all the detractors' best efforts, there is no one counting numbers. The nearest they have managed to get is Chris Bishop, who was more interested in being in India over the weekend than lining up a new job for the new week.

Pee Kay: We didn’t realise how lucky we were!

In the interests of free speech and freedom of thought I will not repeat my, expletive littered, thoughts on the authors state of mind!

But does this article go some way to explaining why Labour/Hipkins hold a 6% lead over National and Hipkins holding a 1.7% lead over Luxon as preferred PM? Surely Luxon’s inability to utter forthright statements, the failure to be able to answer questions in a manner that makes you think he truly believes in the answer are not the sole reason for his shocking poll results?

Dave Patterson: Are Air Attacks on Iran Seriously Depleting US Munitions?

The war in Iran erupted nine days ago, and as the US continues hammering the Middle Eastern nation with air strikes, many are wondering if such attacks are depleting US military supplies. The short answer is no. Even with the massive amount of munitions being expended on ground targets inside Iran and in air defense against Iranian ballistic missiles, drones, and cruise missiles, the US is not running out of ordnance. But US forces are phasing in certain types of munitions where stockpiles are plentiful, suggesting good stewardship of air combat capabilities.