Dr Oliver Hartwich: Mugged by reality: energy orthodoxy meets realpolitik

“These days, ESG means Energy, Security and Geostrategy.” René van Vlerken, CEO of Euronext Amsterdam, was explaining to our delegation how Europe’s largest stock exchange operator had expanded sustainable investing orthodoxy. He was matter-of-fact about this remarkable shift.

The New Zealand Initiative’s “Go Dutch” study tour had come to learn about Dutch innovation and productivity. We found a continent that had been mugged by reality.

Dr Benno Blaschke: When Government reckons with itself

Minister Chris Bishop delivered an unprecedented message to local government leaders last month. At the LGNZ conference, he declared that New Zealanders question councils’ “licence to lead.” But his speech went further than typical government criticism of local authorities.

Net Zero Samizdat: Green backlash gathers pace

UK

The Economist turns on Net Zero

The Economist reports that Britain’s net zero push is driving energy bills sky-high - 90% above the EU average for industry. It finds that renewables require costly grid upgrades and offshore wind has stopped getting cheaper. With public support wobbling, Britain is becoming a warning, not a model, for the risks of top-down climate policy.

Dr Eric Crampton: Hard trade-offs with social media age limits

The government is worried about the harms some youths experience on social media.

The Prime Minister has announced his support for age limits. Social media platforms would face penalties if those under 16 made it onto their sites. Parliament is now holding a broader inquiry.

Nick Clark: Two months to ask if kids can feed lambs?

Woolly-headed regulations about farm kids feeding small animals, collecting eggs, and watering plants are up for review, but not before two months of chewing the cud.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is holding a targeted consultation on agricultural health and safety, including whether little Johnny can safely help Mum with light chores on the farm.

Andrew Dickens: Andrew Dickens: What can we do to ease debt and the cost of living?

Household budgets remain under pressure from rising costs, a credit expert says.

Centrix’s latest credit indicator shows consumer arrears fell by 7,000 in June to 478,000, representing 12.36% of the credit-active population.

 Sunday August 3, 2025 

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John Robertson: The Cult of Colonisation Guilt Must Die for New Zealand to Live

New Zealand is not a country. It’s a hostage situation with a national anthem.

At least, that’s how it feels when you turn on the news and get bludgeoned, yet again, with the sob stories of the eternally aggrieved — the priests of the Treaty cult, whose business model depends on dragging up 200-year-old bruises and insisting they’re still bleeding. Generation after generation, like some kind of intergenerational leech.

Ani O'Brien: A week is a long time - 2 August 2025

$125,000 average pay for nurses so why are they striking?

The Police Association should take a few leaves out of the New Zealand Nursing Organisation’s book when it comes to pay negotiations. The NZNO has had tremendous success in recent years in improving nurses’ pay, but then they do have the ability to strike whereas the underpaid police cannot. The nurses went on strike again this week but they have placed a lot of emphasis on understaffing as growing public awareness of how much they are actually paid has somewhat diminished support for their strikes.

Mike's Minute: Should we "break up" with property?

We are being urged, again, to "break up with property".

We are urged this way once every few years.

It's based, not unreasonably, on the idea that we could take our money and make it work differently, if not more productively, than it does stuck in a house.

Matua Kahurangi: New Zealand First moves to legally cement "New Zealand" as the country's official name

New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that proposes to make it crystal clear - the official name of our country is New Zealand.

The New Zealand (Name of State) Bill, introduced to Parliament today, asserts that only the people of New Zealand, through their elected representatives, have the right to determine the official name of the nation. Not unelected bureaucrats. Not government departments. Not ideologically motivated public officials.

John MacDonald: Should NCEA cater more to students that aren't going to university?

It must be tricky being at school and feeling like you’re not doing anything to prepare you for what you actually want to do when you leave.

The Government is starting to think about that after this new report from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority which says NCEA is too focused on kids wanting to go to university.

Graham Adams: Peters and Seymour tussle over ‘Maorification’

After NZ First leapfrogged Act last month in a Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll — which led to much media excitement about the party’s rising fortunes — it seemed odd for Winston Peters to be quite so tetchy with journalists seeking his opinion on David Seymour’s views on karakia, traditional Māori prayers or incantations used to open or bless events, buildings, or gatherings.

Asked about the Act leader’s criticism of the use of karakia in “the opening of new government buildings,” Peters said: “Why am I responding to what David Seymour doesn’t know?”

Chris Lynch: FBI opens permanent office in New Zealand

A new permanent FBI office has been officially opened in Wellington, strengthening ties between New Zealand and the United States on issues of national security and transnational crime.

Minister Responsible for the GCSB and NZSIS Judith Collins and Police Minister Mark Mitchell welcomed the upgrade during a visit from FBI Director Kash Patel, who inaugurated the new office at the US Embassy earlier today and installed a permanent Legal Attaché (Legat) position.

John McLean: A Pauling

Thinly veiled race lunacy lurks under the veneer of civility

Craig Pauling is the chair of the Canterbury Regional Council (“CRC”). I don’t find Pauling particularly appalling. Craig’s publicly civil - a civility born of his absolute belief in deep-seated dogmas. But Craig is also a lead actor in an appalling tragic farce…the racial renting asunder of the once proud, plucky, pretty unified nation of New Zealand.

Rachel Marsden: Here’s why Western education is doomed

The meteoric rise of feelings-first schooling has ended academic excellence.

As someone who hadn’t set foot inside a grade school for decades, I knew something was amiss when I visited my former Canadian high school for a craft fair.

Saturday August 2, 2025 

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Perspective with Heather du Plessis-Allan: Was our government too relaxed about the tariffs?

So, was our government too relaxed about the tariffs then?

Cause this is a shock today – isn't it? To find out that we’ve just been bumped up to 15% while Australia and dozens of other countries have stayed on 10%.

Now, it seems to be related, most likely, to our balance of trade and that the US has a trade deficit with us. So we get 15%, but then a trade surplus with Australia, so they get 10%. So perhaps it was inevitable and unavoidable, as long as the balance of trade sat like that.

Breaking Views Update: Week of 27.7.25

Saturday August 2, 2025

News:
Auckland's tourism sector embraces Māori and Pasifika culture
Auckland's tourism sector is embracing Māori and Pasifika culture as the city's cultural agency aims to build a more distinct international brand.

The recent State of the City report warned Tāmaki Makaurau was falling behind other international cities and recommended a stronger "Auckland brand" to attract visitors.

Simon O'Connor: More biased voices wanted

Stuff is calling for kiwis to share views on what's happening in Israel and Gaza, but don't expect there to be any balance.

The Stuff headline (below) can be best described as a lie. To date, Stuff has shown little interest in presenting a range of views on this complicated conflict, and this call made at the start of the week will be no different. I would anticipate a careful selection of ‘voices’ that reinforce the single narrative Stuff has been pushing for months now. More worryingly, it will probably enable the usual tropes, slurs, and half-truths to be repeated. What we are witnessing is not reporting but propaganda.