Geoff Parker: A Storm Is Not An Act Of Colonisation.

The report makes a legitimate point that some Māori communities are vulnerable to severe weather events, especially isolated rural or coastal settlements. But it weakens its own credibility by turning climate resilience into a broad ideological argument about colonisation and governance.

Climate risk is primarily driven by geography, infrastructure quality, income, and preparedness — not ancestry.

Geoff Parker: From shelter to sovereignty?

K Gurunathan’s recent Post column praises marae for their role during recent North Island storms and condemns critics of Māori governance arrangements. What it avoids, however, is the uncomfortable but necessary distinction between community charity and political authority.

No one disputes that many marae opened their doors during emergencies, offering shelter, food, and care — just as churches, schools, clubs, and private citizens routinely do in times of crisis. Decency in an emergency is not unique to any culture, nor does it confer constitutional status.

Bob Edlin: NZ Post website informs us about 142 shops losing services....

NZ Post website informs us about 142 shops losing services – but it’s coy about the executive team (and the role of their marae)

Where can we find the people who have decided to remove services from 142 urban retail partner stores around the country this year.

On a marae, apparently.

That’s certainly the impression given by the picture of them featured on the NZ Post website.

Bob Edlin: Electoral law........

Electoral law: if a spiritual leader’s flock needs protection against politicking in churches, what about marae?

New Zealand prides itself on being a secular society, notwithstanding the prayer said at the beginning of each day in Parliament, references to God in the national anthem and two Christian holidays, Good Friday and Christmas Day, being days when most shops are required to close.

But who knew that election campaigning is prohibited in churches?