Sean Rush: New Zealand is planning for a climate future scientists now reject

New Zealand is planning for a climate future scientists now reject. And fixing it will require more than a policy tweak

New Zealand’s coastal climate change planning system is built on a simple legal standard: councils must plan for the likely effects of climate change, using the best available evidence.

But across the country, planning is being anchored to a future that scientists now say is implausible—and, legally, should never have been treated as “likely” in the first place.

Sean Rush: In defence of Tamatha Paul

Recent coverage of Wellington’s wastewater issues has revived debate about decisions made during the city’s 2021-2031 Long‑Term Plan (LTP). At the time I was the portfolio lead for water and worked constructively with all Councillors to secure a record $678 million capital investment in the network over the ten-year plan, with more for a new sewage plant at Moa Point to minimise sludge. Public discussion has recently focused on two elements of that process:

Sean Rush: No, the Supreme Court Didn’t Hand Climate Activists a Victory. It was an own goal.

If you’ve read the headlines about Climate Clinic Aotearoa v Minister of Energy, you might believe a group of law students marched into the Supreme Court and reshaped New Zealand’s climate policy. The popular narrative suggests a solid victory to the students, with reports that the students created new law, that climate is now a mandatory consideration when offering petroleum permits. But the reality is the decision lands as an own goal against climate activism.

Sean Rush: Letter to the Roseneath School Board

Response to Your Letter Regarding Upholding Te Tiriti

Dear Members of the Board,

I am writing in response to your recent letter to the Government stating your intention to uphold Te Tiriti. I have been a proud resident of Roseneath since 2013, my two children were pupils at the school, I have supported the school in fundraising activities and I chaired the Roseneath Resident’s Association. I also did a term as a Wellington City Councillor. I will continue to champion the school.

Sean Rush: Acknowledging Tamatha Paul’s Concerns...

Acknowledging Tamatha Paul’s Concerns: A Balanced Perspective on Police Visibility

Tamatha Paul and I served together as Wellington city councillors from 2019 to 2022. Despite our differing political affiliations, we found common ground on several issues and developed a warm relationship that continues to this day. Recently, Tamatha, now a Green MP, expressed concerns about the heightened police visibility on Wellington streets, suggesting it causes more anxiety than security for some community members. As someone who worked as a criminal defence lawyer in Hawkes Bay back in the early 1990s, I can acknowledge Tamatha’s concerns.