Matua Kahurangi: The last Tuesday of January and the speech New Zealand still refuses to confront

Today is the last Tuesday of January. It is a date that should matter more in New Zealand’s political memory than it does.

On the last Tuesday of January in 2004, Dr. Don Brash stood at the Orewa Rotary Club and delivered what remains one of the most important political speeches given in this country in modern times. It was calm, forensic, unapologetic and, most importantly, correct.