Fiona Mackenzie: Local Boards Driving Separatism

The largest governance structure in New Zealand is the amalgamated Auckland Council. It governs a large region, providing infrastructure and essential community services for a third of all New Zealanders. Beneath the Governing Body, the region is divided into 21 Local Boards, each responsible for spending many millions of ratepayers’ funds on “local issues, activities and services”.

The Leighton Smith Podcast: Dr Muriel Newman on this year's hugely consequential general election

Leighton Smith and Dr Muriel Newman discuss the ongoing constitutional shift toward iwi influence, co-governance and race-based policies. In this election year, New Zealand is arguably facing its biggest challenge to date.

Click to listen - Audio

Peter Collins: Civil War? Can MFAT use UNDRIP to destroy us?

I 'identify' as a New Zealander though I came here fleeing Europe in my mother's arms during the 1930s. I have no indigenous blood though many of my friends have.

I think I understand that the proposed India Free Trade Treaty has an UNDRIP problem - much has been written about that by better pens than mine.

Richard Shaw, Chris Eichbaum: Who wrote the cabinet paper recommending NZ not recognise a Palestinian state?

In the controversy and debate following Foreign Minister Winston Peters’ announcement at the United Nations last week that New Zealand would not yet recognise Palestine as a state, it was easy to overlook a small but telling detail.

The relevant cabinet paper containing the policy background and options, and recommending no change in the country’s current position, was “drafted by the Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs”.

Gerry Eckhoff: Be Careful What You Wish For

“The hand of vengeance found the bed where the purple tyrant fled
The iron hand crushed the tyrant’s head and became a tyrant in his stead”

The warnings of English poet William Blake (1757-1827) were right. A tyrant often wears the color purple to signify supreme authority yet there is no point in replacing one imperfect (political) system with another. What is it that radical Maori want of this country besides an overt influence that masks full control? It’s a fair question and long overdue in the asking. Simply replacing a perceived oppressive system with one approved by Maori reflects the poet’s prophecy.

Michael Reddell: On the way ahead

In my post last Thursday I offered some thoughts on changes that should be initiated by the government in the wake of the Governor’s surprise resignation. (Days on we still have no real explanation as to why he just resigned with no notice, disappearing out the door and (eg) leaving his international conference in the lurch, but this post is entirely forward looking.) Here I want to elaborate on three points, having benefited from a few days to reflect and a few useful conversations/exchanges:

Michael Reddell: Pretty (il)legal

The title of this post was, of course, a reference to the efforts of former Minister of Finance and National campaign manager Steven Joyce to defend the use by National of music inspired by or copied from some overseas band’s work. It was, he claimed, “pretty legal”. The courts disagreed.

Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 15/8/24

Disabilities shakeup is likely to draw focus from charter schools, but Seymour should explain what “accountability” means

In terms of news on the Government’s official website, we last heard from the PM on Monday when he announced he was headed to Australia until tomorrow for a series of top-level political and business engagements.

Michael Reddell: Astonishing indifference to a failed instution

Since taking office, the new government has replaced quite a number of chairs of government entities. I’m sure there are many others but NZTA, Health NZ, Pharmac, and the FMA are just the examples that spring to mind. It isn’t uncommon for such changes to be made, and in many government entities board members can be replaced at will by the government of the day.

The Leighton Smith Podcast: Dr Muriel Newman on the danger to the governance of NZ, the Marine & Coastal Area Act

            Click image to listen

Muriel Newman and her organisation NZCPR (New Zealand Centre for Political Research) have a long standing campaign to prevent a tribal takeover of NZ’s foreshore and seabed.

With Muriel, we cover the danger to the governance of NZ ie, the Marine & Coastal Area Act, a common electoral role, media, radicalisation and its growth and the danger of a return to the Dark Ages.