Articles from ‘Andy Loader, Poke the Bear’

Plan Change 1 aims to improve water quality across the Waikato, but Andy Loader argues its economic and social consequences have not been adequately considered. From rising compliance costs and threats to farming and food production to the impact on rural communities and exports, he questions whether PC1 is workable or affordable. He also argues that major contributors to declining water quality, particularly koi carp, remain inadequately…

Improving the health of Lake Waikare and the Whangamarino Wetland is an objective few people would disagree with. But environmental ambition does not remove the responsibility to demonstrate that the proposed actions will work, that the costs are justified, and that ratepayers and landowners can actually afford them. The Waikare-Whangamarino Draft Action Plan presented to Waikato Regional Council describes itself as non-regulatory but…

In this opinion piece, the author argues that the increasing use of "Aotearoa" in place of "New Zealand" has occurred without a public mandate or referendum. The commentary questions the expansion of Māori-language naming across government agencies, expresses concern about the practical implications of replacing English names, and contends that the Coalition Government has not fully delivered on its election commitments regarding race-based…

The relationship between democracy, the Treaty of Waitangi, co-governance and constitutional reform remains one of New Zealand's most contested public debates. In this opinion piece, Andy Loader argues that New Zealand should reaffirm the principle of equal citizenship under one system of democratic government, challenges contemporary interpretations of the Treaty of Waitangi and co-governance, and calls on the Coalition Government to fulfil…

National's poll numbers continue to trend in the wrong direction, prompting renewed debate over the Government's performance halfway through its first term. In this opinion piece, Andy Loader argues that two issues above all others are driving voter dissatisfaction: the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and what he sees as the Coalition's failure to deliver on key pre-election commitments regarding race-based policies. He contends that unless those…

The Coalition Government has committed to reducing New Zealand’s net greenhouse gas emissions to between 51% and 55% below its 2005 gross emissions by 2035. · Climate Change, Minister Simon Watts, stated that meeting the new 2035 target would mean New Zealand was doing “our fair share towards reducing the impact of climate change”. The Coalition Government has implied that man-made global warming cause’s adverse weather events and they remain…

But while we are trying to improve water quality throughout the Waikato under PC1 we don’t want, and can’t afford, to end up failing to ensure food security, creating racial division in our region and further afield and causing an economic disaster. Unfortunately that is exactly the outcome that we are staring at as a result of the implementation of PC1. · Currently the Waikato Regional Council is working on the requirements from the…

New Zealand has gradually become a more racist country as time has gone by and this process has been ably assisted by the mainstream media. In my opinion, part of the reason is due to the Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty is a simple document signed in simple times which, if the explanation given by that revered elder Māori statesman, Sir Apirana Ngata - M.A., LLB., Litt.D., is to be considered true, made us all one people with equal rights as…

The following article is an opinion piece and the views expressed are those of the author. · You may well ask what the heck he is on about. · Well it is either there is a current practice of the government bureaucracy adding sections into legislation without approval from the coalition government or the coalition government is adding these sections in against their express promises from prior to the 2023 election. The latest example is seen in…

What is meant by Social Licence to Operate? · In regard to the WRC, social licence to operate means having the trust of the voters or ratepayers to govern on their behalf. · Currently in New Zealand we have democratic systems of local government which provide the councils with their “Social Licence to Operate” by way of elections where all ratepayers have the right to vote for candidates of their choice. · Elections and Candidates · Elections…