Bob Edlin: Trump should brace for reprisals as Waititi calls for penalties over Wihongi detention

The PoO team was greatly cheered to hear Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi go out to bat for “all New Zealand citizens detained by ICE”.

But his primary concern was the wellbeing of Everlee Wihongi, who has been detained by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement for over a month without any charges.

David Farrar: How is Waititi’s hero going?

In July Te Pati Maori co-leader Rawiri Waititi said that Burkina Faso’s leader Ibrahim Traoré was his modern day hero. I thought it would be timely to check in and see how his hero is going.

Al Jazeera reports:

Bob Edlin: Double murderer has been freed on parole....

Double murderer has been freed on parole – but would he have been jailed if the Maori Party had been running things 20 years ago?

The New Zealand public learned today that Tauranga double murderer Anthony Doyle has been released on parole after serving 20 years.

It turns out he was freed before the New Year.

Ani O'Brien: Civil war in Te Pāti Māori as the Kapa-Kingis come out swinging

The revolution is eating itself. Te Pāti Māori, the so-called uncompromising voice of Māori sovereignty, is turning inward, and the implosion is happening in real time. The movement that lectured Parliament about tikanga and collective leadership can’t seem to practise either. The façade of unity has cracked and beneath it lies a mess of ego, dysfunction, and factions.

Over the past 48 hours, the fractures have gone from rumour to reality. Two key developments have confirmed that the whare of Te Pāti Māori is visibly crumbling. These developments being Toitū Te Tiriti’s public split from Te Pāti Māori and open dissent coming from within the party’s own caucus.

Pee Kay: I was beaten for speaking Maori

Another Maori Language Week has come and gone and as usual, we were subjected to TV reporters giving a lesson on how to mangle a language, the obligatory profusion of pro and anti-commentary and it delivered some sideshows and farces of absurdity.

Topping my list was Rāwiri Waititi.

David Farrar: Meet TPM’s “hero”

Te Pati Maori co-leader Rawiri Waititi shared a video of Ibrahim Traoré on Instagram and declared him his “hero”.

Traoré is the leader of Burkina Faso. Here’s his record:

Ani O'Brien: A week is a long time - 5 July 2025

A NZ Politics weekly wrap-up

Luxon’s plans for Quarter 3

Despite not quite completing two of its 38 objectives for Quarter 2, Christopher Luxon and his Government are correct to call it a success. The two that were missed relate to removing barriers to capital markets and a Government AI strategy. Both are underway. In Quarter 3, there are 28 actions on the checklist and Luxon puts this drop down to the size and scope of the objectives. That didn’t stop the NZ Herald from running with the headline “Government gives itself fewer actions to do this quarter…”

David Farrar: Tania vs Rawiri

The Rotorua Daily Post reports:

Waititi said the removal of the homeless people was “callous attacks” on “vulnerable whānau”.

He said they were woken by police, trespassed like criminals and had their belongings “tipped out, broken, or hauled away like trash”, with some also arrested “for being distressed at the violent way they were being treated under cold, heartless council bylaws”.

Bob Edlin: Waititi’s demand to “get on with it” presaged the sovereignty issue being aired....

Waititi’s demand to “get on with it” presaged the sovereignty issue being aired – and claims about the race card being played

It looks like the Government and Māori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi shared one objective last Thursday. Both wanted to bring an end to proceedings that determined the fate of the three Māori Party MPs who had performed a haka during the vote on the first reading of the Principles of Treaty of Waitangi Bill last November.

Louis Collins, in an RNZ report headed The House: A sentencing hearing in Parliament, observed:

Matua Kahurangi: Waving a noose in Parliament?

By now, you’ve probably seen the image spreading across social media - Rawiri Waititi, co-leader of Te Pāti Māori, standing in New Zealand’s Parliament, brandishing a noose like some kind of political prop. I watched it unfold live during the parliamentary debate yesterday and it was one of the most disgraceful stunts I’ve ever seen in the House.

Steven Mark Gaskell: Lowering super eligibility for māori is wrong, divisive, and racist

The proposal by Te Pāti Māori to lower the superannuation age to 57 exclusively for Māori is not just flawed—it’s dangerous.

It’s a clear step away from equal treatment under the law and a leap toward race-based entitlement that has no place in a modern, democratic society.

David Farrar: Would Waititi qualify for residency?

I’m not against having character questions as part of residency applications but I note that these questions could see TPM co-leader Rawiri Waititi fail to get residency, if he was an applicant.

Bob Edlin: Waititi’s beating of the drum to enrol more Maori in Maori electorates....

Rawiri Waititi’s beating of the drum to enrol more Maori in Maori electorates (to vote for guess who?)

The table below gives us an idea of how Maori are responding to their right to exploit the Maori electoral option.

The data can be considered alongside Maori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi’s urging Maori to opt for the Maori roll and to have more Maori seats established.

Peter Williams: Luxon Misses the Mark

Why doesn't he like the Treaty Principles Bill?

The Prime Minister’s statement at his Monday media conference this week was quite staggering.

In response to a question from The Platform’s Sean Plunket, Christopher Luxon said about the Treaty Principles Bill “there isn’t anything I like.”

Read the Bill and then consider Luxon’s statement.

Dr Don Brash: Prebble puts the cat among the pigeons!!

As you probably know Hobson's Pledge has been running a petition to End the Waitangi Tribunal. That campaign continues, but in the meantime we heard some news that brought a smile to our faces... the Government has appointed former Labour Minister and ACT leader Richard Prebble to the Waitangi Tribunal!

The outrage machine has kicked into action with Willie Jackson even saying:

Rodney Hide: Blood Quantum

ACT Leader David Seymour posts on X:

“Today in Parliament, Rawiri Waititi referred to a Government MP's 'blood quantum'. That's the dangerous and divisive idea that how much ‘Māori blood’ a person has in their body should matter.

If any other political party behaved in this way, they would lead the 6pm news.”

Mike Butler: Maori wards decision looms

Councillors on the 45 councils that imposed Maori wards once polls were outlawed must soon decide whether to disestablish them, or rescind their decision, or face campaigning in an election in which Maori wards are the issue.

This is unless the coalition government waters down or withdraws the Local Electoral (Maori Wards and Maori Constituencies) Amendment Bill, which is currently under attack from Maori wards supporters during submissions.

Each council must decide during a “transitional period”, which is the weeks between the time when the bill becomes law, which could be July 31, and September 6.

Graham Adams: Rawiri Waititi’s gift to the coalition

The government is always going to win a showdown between order and anarchy.

Not every government is lucky enough to be gifted a parliamentary opponent who effortlessly makes its leaders look sagacious and principled. Someone who immediately makes them look competent and sane in comparison, and very much the adults in the room.

With his inflammatory slogans, theatrics and intimidating posturing, Rawiri Waititi ably and enthusiastically fulfils that role in New Zealand’s 54th Parliament (albeit with stiff competition from others in Te Pāti Māori, including his co-leader, Debbie Ngarewa-Packer).

Chris Lynch: Karen Chhour responds to Te Pāti Māori’s “divisive outbursts”

ACT MP Karen Chhour has responded to the Maori Party’s “divisive outbursts.”

Co-leader Rawiri Waititi said yesterday, ‘It’s now time for us to step comfortably into our rangatiratanga and to not give too much to this Pakeha Government with their Pakeha Budget for their Pakeha economy.’

Cam Slater: Scallywags? Actually, They Are More like Ratbags

The Maori Party and their proxies are upping the ante in their racist rage, promising to block motorways and roads and go on strike as part of a protest against the democratically elected Government’s policies.