John Porter: If Reversed it Would be Called Racism

American political economist Benjamin Friedman, author of Religion and the Rise of Capitalism, a basic reassessment of the underpinnings of today’s economics, once compared modern Western society to a bicycle whose forward momentum was kept going by continuing economic growth. He expounded that should that forward-propelling motion slow or cease, the pillars that define our society – our democracies, our individual liberties and social tolerance - would begin to falter.

Further warning, “…if society was unable to get the wheels back in motion, countries would eventually face total societal collapse”. 

John Porter: A Half Truth is a Whole Lie!

As voters, we know and recognise that politicians all too often make bold promises during election campaigns. Promises that we know are obviously just too ambitious.

And don’t we justly feel we have the right to hold our elected officials accountable for the promises they make during campaigns? 

John Porter: National and Co-Governance

How many of us, on the evening of Saturday, 14 October 2023, exuberantly thought that co-governance was, if not quite dead and buried, was definitely being readied for a trip to the graveyard?

It hasn’t turned out that way, has it?

John Porter: An open letter to Prime Minister Luxon and the coalition cabinet.

An open letter to Prime Minister Luxon and the coalition cabinet.

Prime Minister Luxon and members of the coalition cabinet,

For how long do you think our country can allow its treasury funds to be plundered, for the country’s social services such as health and education to be run down to a point to where they are barely able to service the populaces needs? For how long will you allow the nation’s infrastructure to deteriorate due to a deficiency of funds?

For how long will you allow one of the worlds most attractive places to live slowly descend into 3rd world status all because of spurious and illegitimate claims lodged by the Waitangi Tribunal that have seen and continues to see billions of dollars be shoveled into Maori tribal corporation pockets.

John Porter: Tell a Lie Big Enough…

Google the term "indigenous" and you will find a multitude of interpretations.

Cambridge Dictionary – indigenous = adjective

· used to refer to, or relating to, the people who originally lived in a place, rather than people who moved there from somewhere else.

John Porter: Greens or Home for the Disaffected?

Back in 1972, not long before the general election of that year, an idealistic ex journalist and political science student at Victoria University, 25-year-old Tony Blunt founded the Values Party. They were actually the world’s first national-level environmentalist party and were a precursor to the Green Party we know today.

There are many political pundits who credit the Values Party, by bringing the environmental issues to the forefront of political thinking led the world by formulating their own environmental policies. 

John Porter: Equity is a Stalking Horse

In 1975, the expression Global Warming first appeared in the title of an influential scientific paper. “Are We on the Brink of a Pronounced Global Warming?” The IPCC regularly used the terminology Global Warming to describe changes in the average temperatures on Earth. But they found that term became too alienating, divisive and had become very politicised and was easily countered with fact based scientific evidence.

Hence, we witnessed the change in terminology to Climate Change. A much more dispassionate, equable and all-embracing, acceptable term. 

John Porter: Why rob a bank when you can plunder the Treasury!

On October 8th, Associate Minister of Housing and Hamilton West MP Tama Potaka announced a multi-million dollar housing project with Waikato-Tainui. Potaka proudly advised the Government would invest $35 million in the project. 

“The Hopuhopu Housing Development will help deliver better social and community outcomes for whānau who will live, work, and build cultural identity there,” Potaka said. 

John Porter: Equality or Equity

In New Zealand we are so very, very fortunate to live in a democracy where we all have the same opportunity to exercise our right to elect the government in an election. So many around the world do not possess that privilege!

That’s, one person, one vote. EQUALITY!

Being afforded that licence, conveys a duty and responsibility to honour and protect the legacy of New Zealand’s democracy. Individuals participating in a democratic society are obliged to agree to the rule of law and the regulations that govern the society in which they live in.

John Porter: Does no-one care?

Does no-one care that a minority of our population is being supported, encouraged and abetted by publicly elected politicians and public servants in their quest to impose tribal rule in New Zealand?

Does no-one care that, arguably, one of the world’s best ways of life is being ruined? Ruined for all people of New Zealand.

Does no-one care that one of the world longest existing democracies is being undermined and eroded at an ever-increasing speed?

It certainly seems like it to me. 

John Porter: Cometh the Hour, Cometh the Man

“Cometh the hour, cometh the man.” Generally meaning that leadership, even of one’s self, is absent and desperately needed in a time of greatest necessity, so someone is forced to step up whether they seem capable or not.

Prime Minister Luxon I think your hour has cometh!

John Porter: Why We Must Re-Elect the Current Government

On October the 23rd a majority of New Zealand said they had had enough. The Labour Government of the previous six years was swept from office in a near landslide.

New Zealanders made their views on the future of co-governance quite clear. On election night it was a resounding: ‘We do not want it!’

John Porter: Pushing Back on Critical Race Theory

With Critical Race Theory (CRT), we face a doctrine deeply embedded for decades with its genesis in Marxism.

I have written earlier that we should all have serious concerns about the incremental creep of CRT into our lives and also into our country’s culture and governance.

John Porter: This review is not about apportioning blame

“This review is not about apportioning blame.” So said Hawke’s Bay Regional Council Chair Hinewai Ormsby,  when announcing the review into the performance of Hawkes Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management, post the devastating flooding associated with Cyclone Gabrielle, one of the most devastating weather events to hit New Zealand.

Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the North Island of New Zealand in February 2023.

In business, you are accountable. Mistakes carry a penalty. People are fired for incompetence. Why is it in the parallel world of government and the public service, the reverse is the case?

John Porter: Can We Fight Critical Race Theory?

Hello, it’s John Porter on Bay FM and today I’m talking about Critical Race Theory (CRT).

No, not heard of CRT? Well, it’s a significant issue around the world these days and seems to be becoming embedded in the thinking of certain sectors of our society.

Critical Race Theory (CRT) seeks to explain the multitude of ways that race and racism have become embedded in modern societies. The core idea is that we need to look beyond individual acts of racism and make structural changes to prevent and remedy racial discrimination.

John Porter: Should Maori Have Sovereignty Over New Zealand?

Hello, it’s John Porter on Bay FM and today I’m asking: Do you agree that Maori should have sovereignty over New Zealand?

Because that is the publicly proclaimed agenda and goal of Maori activists, leaders and their separatist supporters.

Find that unbelievable? Well, look at what Maori separatists have achieved so far, all under the guise of co-governance!

John Porter: If Not, Why Not Mr Luxon

Hello, it’s John Porter on Bay FM and today I’m talking about Prime Minister Luxon’s meeting with the powerful Iwi Chairs Group at the annual Iwi Chairs Forum.

On February 2nd in Kerikeri, Prime Minister Luxon, along with a collection of National Cabinet ministers, ACT leader David Seymour, and NZ First Minister Shane Jones, met with some fifty chairpersons of organisations representing seventy-seven tribes.

John Porter: Lest We Forget

April 25th marks the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during World War I, at Gallipoli. New Zealand and Australia mark the anniversary each year, remembering not only those who died at Gallipoli, but all who have served their country in times of war.

The crucial consequence of the terrible events of World War I was the rescue of democracy, primarily in Europe, but also around the world.

John Porter: Takers of a Fence

To paraphrase the late, great Billy T James: “Hey Billy, someone is stealing your gate bro! Aren’t you going to stop him?” “Nah. He might take a fence!”

These days the “takers of a fence” are crawling out of the woodwork, primed and cocked, ready to “take a fence” at any and every utterance made in their direction. Every minority group, every pressure group perceive themselves to be belittled, bullied, subjugated and repressed by one faction or another of the majority.

What is offence?

John Porter: How ‘Green’ Is She Really?

“I am the violence prevention minister – and I know who causes violence in the world – it is white cis men. That it is white cis men who cause violence in the world.” - Marama Davidson

Green party deputy leader Marama Davidson felt emboldened and enabled to proclaim such a divisive statement because that is the tenor and character of today’s culture wars. Her statement invited a “pile on”, outrage and contempt from many quarters including, of course, white straight politicians.

Why did she do it? Davidson gives strong indicators that she actually believes that white males are the foremost perpetrators of violence and she now perceives greater political mileage is to be gained by advocating social/racial issues as opposed to the conservation issues that you would expect from a member of a “Green” political party.

Davidson surely is a true watermelon green!