Tony Vaughn: Racial Romanticism Is Not Policy - The Cost of Coddling a Myth

David Seymour committed the cardinal sin of contemporary politics - he told the truth! Race-based funding is racist. A statement so obviously true that it ought to be stitched onto the curtains of the Beehive and should be self-evident to anyone with an IQ above room temperature. Yet, predictably, Tama Potaka emerged, starch-shirted and squinting in moral indignation, to denounce Seymour's comments as “unhelpful.” No, Mr Potaka. What is truly unhelpful is the systematic diversion of public funds into a racial fantasy built on grievance economics and revisionist nostalgia.

Chris Lynch: New sanctions take effect to boost welfare accountability

Two new sanctions come into effect today aimed at increasing accountability in New Zealand’s welfare system.

Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says the new measures, Money Management and Community Work Experience, now apply after a first failure to meet agreed obligations while receiving a main benefit such as Jobseeker Support.

Matua Kahurangi: Māori Seats

The racist roadblock to New Zealand’s unity

New Zealand prides itself on being a democratic nation committed to fairness, equality, and unity. Yet, within our parliamentary system exists a relic from another era - the Māori seats.

Originally introduced in 1867 as a temporary measure to ensure Māori representation at a time when most Māori were excluded from voting due to land ownership requirements, these race-based seats have remained in place for over 150 years. What may have once been a practical solution has today become an outdated and divisive institution that undermines the very principles of equality and unity it was meant to support.

Kerre Woodham: Charities don't need non-complying beneficiaries

Two new ‘non-financial’ sanctions have come into force today for beneficiaries, who, in the words of the MSD, do not meet their obligations or, as other people might put it, who do not get off their @r$es and go and look for a job.

Some people may have half their weekly benefits put onto a payment card for four weeks, that can only be spent on essential items at approved shops. Others may also have to find volunteer work for at least five hours each week, again for four weeks.

Dr James Kierstead, Geoff Neal: Politicians are disconnected from the people they represent

Like most of the developed world, we in New Zealand live – we like to think – in a representative democracy. Rather than directly voting on issues, we vote for politicians who represent us in Parliament and in local councils. These politicians are responsive to our views, and if they’re not, we can kick them out at the next election and vote in another set of politicians who are.

Insights From Social Media

Steven Mark Gaskell responds to two recent articles in the Media

Another Day, Another Lecture from the Green Party’s Moral High Ground

Former Green MP Catherine Delahunty has dusted off her soapbox to remind us again that the Treaty of Waitangi isn’t just a founding document but apparently the undisputed blueprint for total constitutional overhaul. According to her, the Privileges Committee and by extension, democracy itself should defer to an activist interpretation of Te Tiriti that somehow bypasses elections, representative governance, and that pesky little thing called public accountability.

Point of Order: Europe is in trouble – and it’s not just trade

Donald Trump thinks that US tariff negotiations with the European Union are going nowhere, the Daily Telegraph reports, and plans to impose a 50% tariff within the week.

It looks like the EU is not minded to follow the UK’s post-Brexit lead: accept a U.S. revenue tariff, tackle a few regulatory problems, and gesture towards future convergence (endless talks, always on the back foot).

Kevin: The Greens and Their Idealism

I regard Chlöe Swarbrick as highly intelligent. I know many of you will disagree but hear me out. She is also an idealist. My definition of idealism is being in a place where you are unable to see that your ideas are at best mindnumbingly stupid and at worst homicidally dangerous. And that doesn’t depend on how smart or stupid you are. So with that in mind:

Monday May 26, 2025 

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Mike's Minute: Luxon might be fighting the wrong battle with super

It is suggested Peter Dutton in Australia lost the election because of his nuclear issue and work from home policies.

I personally think he lost because they ran a hopeless campaign. But it is more than possible that he floated a couple of ideas that the voter simply could not stomach.

I am wondering if Chris Luxon is heading in a similar direction here with superannuation.

Wendy Geus: Reverse the 'Power of General Competence'

PM must reverse the 'Power of General Competence' to stop activism in local government before the local elections to set new spending standards.

As powerless ratepayers face the ongoing tyranny of marxist councils over rates bills and the local  government minister's  repeated demands for sensible spending fall on deaf ears, the Prime Minister continues to ignore the obvious solution.

Caleb Anderson: Curriculum Reform - History Should Be Next!

The reason that the New Zealand History Curriculum should be the next cab off the rank

The government is to be lauded for recent changes to the Mathematics and English Curricula, and for additional literacy initiatives. There is already evidence of a lift in teaching practice and of improving standards. These new initiatives have been moved quickly, in some cases there have been speed wobbles, but by and large, given the desperate need to lift achievement quickly, the roll out has gone well. The case for hitting these two curricula first was sound.

Zoran Rakovic: Te Tiriti Obligations Quietly Shifted Into the Backyards of Private Citizens

Opinion on why New Zealand’s Crown cannot legally transfer its Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations to private landowners under section 6 of the RMA.

Section 6 of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) purports to set out “matters of national importance” to which all persons exercising functions and powers under the Act must “recognise and provide for.” Among these are matters such as the preservation of the natural character of the coastal environment, the protection of outstanding natural features and landscapes, and the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, water, sites, wāhi tapu, and other taonga. Specifically, section 6(e) elevates Māori interests into a planning context that places regulatory burdens on private landowners through local council decisions made under the RMA. At first glance, this framework may appear as a principled reconciliation between land use regulation and the Crown’s Treaty obligations. 

Mike Hosking: Is the butter debate really supermarkets ripping us off?

I hope you are following the butter debate, specifically the Costco part of it.

Why? Because it's an insight into how the world works, especially the economic world, and why Nicola Willis and her crusade to convince us supermarkets are ripping us off might be wrong.

Ani O'Brien: Budget 2025 - KiwiSaver, women, and "austerity"

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has referred to her 2025 Budget as the No B.S. Budget. We all know what she means by that, but Chris Hipkins took it upon himself to offer up some alternative interpretations during his Budget speech including: “no bold solutions,” “no bread and shelter,” and “no back-paid settlements for women”. What the Budget does have, according to Hipkins is “Big Subsidies”.1

DTNZ: Manurewa Marae investigation referred to SFO

Police have referred a complaint concerning Manurewa Marae to the Serious Fraud Office, as the South Auckland institution faces mounting pressure over alleged financial mismanagement, electoral law breaches, and the abrupt cancellation of taxpayer-funded social services.

Dave Patterson: Trump’s Golden Dome Comes Into Focus

During the Cold War years, the concept of mutual assured destruction kept the nuclear powers in check. Each knew that to start a nuclear war would ensure its destruction. Nonetheless, strategic objectives called “countervalue targeting” and “counterforce targeting” were outcomes that military strategists debated.

Kelli Ballard: China ‘Kill Switches’ Found in Solar Power Inverters

China’s infiltration of the US and other countries is nothing new, whether to spy, collect sensitive data, or steal trade secrets. The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) found 224 reported instances of Chinese espionage directed at the nation since 2000. The newest discovered threat comes in the form of “kill switches” that could potentially give the communist country the ability to cause widespread blackouts.

Dr James Kierstead: A new approach to neutrality

Last week, the University of Otago came out with its new statement on institutional neutrality – a statement that was not only new, but that also forged a bold new approach to the whole concept of neutrality.

Institutional neutrality, the statement declares, ‘means that University leaders will not communicate institutional positions on controversial political topics except where such issues directly impact the University’s role or functions.’ So far, so neutral – and nothing much that’s new.

Dr Eric Crampton: Deficits forever?

This week’s budget projected no return to balanced books. It is difficult to see how recent budgets from National and Labour comply with the Public Finance Act’s fiscal responsibility provisions.

It is a problem.