Articles in ‘Opinion’

Younger generations are ageing faster and experiencing rising rates of early-onset cancer, but what is driving the trend? Dr Guy Hatchard examines research into biological ageing and questions whether modern exposures — including industrially fermented ingredients increasingly found in cosmetics, foods and supplements — deserve greater scrutiny. He argues that rapidly changing manufacturing processes and biotechnology warrant far more…

Balancing the books is only half the job. Dr Oliver Hartwich argues that while National and Labour are focused on deficits, spending and taxation, New Zealand’s deeper challenge is declining productivity and competitiveness. He says restoring credible institutions, simplifying government and making ministers clearly accountable should be just as important as returning the budget to surplus. Over the past couple of weeks, the two major parties…

Guy Hatchard argues that New Zealand’s latest mortality figures should be treated as a warning sign, with deaths rising in the year to June 2026 while birth and fertility rates continue to fall. Pointing to excess mortality, cardiac and cancer concerns and unprecedented pressure from winter illness, he calls for Health NZ to investigate health outcomes by age, vaccination status and disease type, and make the findings public. The year ended…

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…

While global energy markets are becoming increasingly unsettled, New Zealand continues to receive a steady flow of fuel shipments. For now, the tankers are still arriving—but with Brent crude climbing above US$100 and geopolitical tensions escalating around key shipping routes, the coming weeks will be worth watching very closely. NZ Fuel Watch – Update 31 July 2026 · Global Tensions Rise, But New Zealand's Fuel Supply Still Holding Steady ·…

New Zealand's fuel supply remains steady despite growing concerns over tightening diesel supplies in Europe and declining fuel inventories in the United States. Marsden Point continues to handle the bulk of fuel imports, Wellington has received fresh supply from Napier, and the overall flow of tankers remains healthy. With 11 international fuel cargoes and 24 fuel port movements recorded so far in July, New Zealand's fuel distribution network…

Biotechnology is transforming medicine, agriculture and scientific research at an unprecedented pace, while raising important questions about safety, ethics and public oversight. In this opinion piece, Dr Guy Hatchard argues that the risks associated with genetic technologies and gain-of-function research deserve greater public scrutiny, and that lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic should prompt a reassessment of current scientific and…