Matua Kahurangi: Questions raised over the timing of Tom Phillips’ latest sighting

The reappearance of fugitive Marokopa father Tom Phillips, dubbed New Zealand’s “hide-and-seek champion”, is raising eyebrows – not just because of the alledged burglary footage released by police, but because of the timing.

Matua Kahurangi: National’s obsession with Indian photo ops is becoming impossible to ignore

Is it just me, or has National developed a real obsession with the Indian community in New Zealand? To be clear, this is not about being racist or dismissive of migrants, it is about pointing out what has become an obvious political strategy.

Matua Kahurangi: From newsreader to racist

Oriini Kaipara dresses as Julius Malema, who publicly chants to kill white people

If you’ve been unfortunate enough to scroll through X this week, you’ll no doubt have seen the bizarre spectacle of Te Pāti Māori candidate for Tāmaki Makaurau, Oriini Kaipara, and her choice of costume. I say costume, because that’s what it was. Not professional attire, not a statement of seriousness – but a costume designed to shock, divide, and align herself with some of the ugliest politics on the planet.

Matua Kahurangi: Patriotism under attack

Why is flying the flag now “racist” in the West

Thankfully here in New Zealand, we have not yet seen the same level of persecution that is playing out across the United Kingdom. Over there, ordinary English patriots are standing up against unchecked immigration and the endless stream of faux asylum seekers being handed hotel rooms, mobile phones and meals, all paid for by the taxpayer. Instead of being listened to, these men and women are being arrested, vilified and branded criminals simply for defending their country’s culture and heritage.

Matua Kahurangi: Te Pāti Māori cares more about Palestinians than Kiwi kids

You’ve probably heard me voice this frustration before, but it still doesn’t make sense. Why is Debbie Ngawera-Packer so focused on the plight of children in Gaza while remaining silent on the suffering of children here in New Zealand? Especially tamariki Māori whom she claims to represent.

Matua Kahurangi: A billion dollars for separatism

Why Te Pāti Māori must never be in government again

I’ll be straight up, I’m not exactly National’s biggest fan at the moment. I voted for them with my electorate vote, but they’ve done plenty that’s frustrated me since getting into government. That said, let’s not kid ourselves here. If Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori were still running this country, it would be an absolute sh*tshow. At the next election we need to do everything possible to stop them clawing their way back into power. Because if they do, every bit of work National and the coalition have managed to do will be tossed out the window in a heartbeat.

Matua Kahurangi: Enough of this rāhui bullsh*t

When did iwi decide who can and can’t fish?

Over the weekend, the Otago Daily Times ran a story with the headline “Rāhui in place after body found on Wairau Bar.” Curious, I Googled the Wairau Bar and found it is in Marlborough. Sure enough, Stuff also carried the same story.

Stuff quoted a post made by local iwi on Facebook:

Matua Kahurangi: Three Strikes isn’t enough

The Three Strikes law is back. After Labour scrapped it in 2022, the coalition government reinstated it a few months back in June with some tweaks, like more judicial discretion and considerations for guilty pleas. For serious violent and sexual offenders, it remains one of the few sentencing regimes that treats repeat offending with the seriousness it deserves - first strike, a warning; second strike, no parole; third strike, maximum sentence with no parole.

Matua Kahurangi: The disturbing symbolism behind the transgender flag

The flag’s creator admitted it represents baby boys and girls – and that should alarm us all

Yesterday while scrolling through X, I came across a reply that made me pause. One of my followers @Uraniumphile had written:

“I taught my kids that the rainbow flag, and the pink, white, blue flag are danger signals. They know to avoid any adult who displays those signals, including any teacher.”

Matua Kahurangi: Face tattoos and tā moko ain't a free pass

If you think getting a facial tattoo gives you some sort of untouchable street cred, think again. Walking into a pub, club, or any establishment expecting special treatment because of a few lines of ink on your face is laughable. Many people around the world see facial tattoos as intimidating at best, and at worst, an automatic warning sign of gang affiliation or trouble. To be honest, I simply look at them and think, “What an idiot - why would anyone ruin their face like that?”

Matua Kahurangi: Labour loves the gangs!

Labour is once again being linked with gangs, this time over the gang patch ban. During a debate in Tāmaki Makaurau, Labour candidate Peeni Henare was asked if he supported repealing the ban on wearing gang insignia in public. His answer? “Āe.” Yes.

Matua Kahurangi: Justice for sale

Wealthy child abuse offender seems to buy name suppression

New Zealand should be disgusted. A 46-year-old member of a wealthy family has been convicted of possessing and importing over 11,000 files of child sexual abuse material, including videos of toddlers being tortured, children being urinated on, and sadistic sexual acts involving pre-pubescent girls. Despite the seriousness of these crimes, their identity has been permanently suppressed. Not only their own name, but also their family name and the name of their high-profile company.

Matua Kahurangi: Teaching kids fairy tales

Why Māori star myths don’t belong in science class

Something popped up in my Feedly this weekend from Waatea News, the Māori-supremacist “news” outlet that spends half its time pushing co-governance and Māori-only entitlements, and the other half pumping out cost-of-living crisis sob stories disguised as journalism. Here’s an example of them using an AI-generated picture, where they probably used the prompt:

Matua Kahurangi: The nerve of Hipkins

Complaining about unemployment after mandating it

In a tweet dripping with faux outrage, former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said:

“So according to Nicola Willis people concerned about rising unemployment are ‘glass half empty’ and people who have lost their jobs ‘shouldn’t take it personally’. Could she be any more out of touch?!”

Matua Kahurangi: Erica Stanford - Teachers will no longer mark student work

National’s Education Minister Erica Stanford has revealed a sweeping change that will see teachers relieved of one of their most time-consuming duties: marking student assessments. Speaking on The Duncan Garner Podcast, Stanford confirmed that by 2028, the responsibility for marking both internal and external NCEA assessments will shift entirely to NZQA, and much of it will be done using artificial intelligence.

Matua Kahurangi: Hobson's Pledge billboard image......

Aukaha News and Ellen Tamati embarrass themselves over legally used stock photo by Hobson's Pledge

In the latest instalment of people outraged by things they clearly don’t understand, Aukaha News and a woman named Ellen Tamati have launched a social media tantrum over a billboard image used by Hobson’s Pledge in one of their campaign against Māori Wards.

Matua Kahurangi: They’ll do anything to lock him up

Tommy Robinson arrested again

Any time Tommy Robinson is involved in anything, the establishment rushes to paint him as the villain, no matter the context, no matter the facts.

Matua Kahurangi: Digital cash and digital ID

A dangerous step towards government overreach

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ) is continuing to explore the introduction of “digital cash”, a central bank issued form of currency that would exist purely online. If tied to a digital ID system, this proposal could give the government unprecedented control over how, where, and when New Zealanders use their money.

Matua Kahurangi: Time's up for Luxon

Christopher Luxon was supposed to be the circuit breaker. The man who would bring real-world business sense and a no-nonsense leadership style after six long years of Labour's social engineering and tyranny. New Zealanders didn’t vote for him out of love. They voted for change. Now, with the gloss well and truly worn off, it is becoming clear he was the wrong man for the job.

Matua Kahurangi: My proposal - KFC vouchers for sterilisation

A bold new welfare policy idea

Remember when the New Zealand Government handed out KFC vouchers to encourage people to get vaccinated during the COVID-19 pandemic? A little taste of the Colonel, all in the name of public health. That got me thinking. If we were happy to bribe people with junk food to take a vaccine, why stop there?

So here’s my proposal.