Articles in ‘Opinion’

New Zealand's decision to abandon domestic oil refining deserves scrutiny beyond the price of petrol. The loss of refining capacity also raises questions about industrial by-products, agricultural inputs and whether successive governments have adequately protected the country's productive economy. The Cost of Losing a Strategic Industry · In March 2022, New Zealand's only oil refinery at Marsden Point ceased operations, ending nearly six…

Dr Guy Hatchard questions why New Zealand's rising emergency department presentations have not prompted a comprehensive investigation into possible contributing factors, including Covid-19 vaccination history. He examines research into IgG4 immune responses, challenges assumptions about mRNA vaccine safety and calls for greater transparency from Health NZ. His opinion also considers how political parties and the media have responded to the…

Andy Loader questions the proposed action plan for Lake Waikare and the Whangamarino Wetland, asking where the cost-benefit analysis, scientific evidence and measurable outcomes are for a project estimated at $1 billion. He argues that government decisions have contributed to the environmental problems, particularly water flows and koi carp, and challenges whether local ratepayers should bear the cost of remediation. Over the last few weeks…

Dr Guy Hatchard examines new emergency department data showing a sharp rise in patient numbers and serious presentations across New Zealand. He argues the deterioration accelerated after 2021 and challenges claims that increased funding and staffing alone can resolve the crisis. Linking the trend to Covid vaccination and wider biotechnology, Hatchard calls for a fundamental reassessment of health policy and greater emphasis on diet, exercise…

With New Zealand voting under MMP on November 7, Andy Loader argues that centre-right voters should think strategically about their two votes. Challenging calls from Christopher Luxon and John Key to give both votes to National, Loader contends that voters should back National electorate candidates while giving their party vote to ACT or NZ First, arguing that securing a centre-right parliamentary majority must come before protecting individual…

Andy Loader challenges the idea of “white privilege” in New Zealand, arguing that ethnicity does not determine wealth, hardship or opportunity. He questions race-based funding, co-governance and the expanding influence of Treaty policy, while arguing that assistance should be based on individual need rather than ancestry. Loader contends that New Zealand’s future depends on equality before the law, open debate and democratic government in which…

Andy Loader continues his examination of MMP by turning to what happens after election day. He argues coalition negotiations can hand smaller parties significant influence over who forms the government and what policies emerge. His proposed solution is greater transparency before voters cast their ballots: require parties to declare in advance which other parties they would be prepared to negotiate with Part 1 click here · Obviously after the…

n this opinion, Andy Loader examines New Zealand election promises, the cost of living, resource policy, Treaty and co-governance debates, and the records of successive governments. He questions whether political commitments are grounded in complete evidence and whether voters can hold parties accountable for delivery. Part 2 click here · It doesn’t take a genius to work out that in the current economic climate there are many people who are…

Andy Loader argues that the pause on Waikato Plan Change 1 is not a retreat from improving river health, but an opportunity to address what he sees as fundamental flaws in the plan. He says PC1 failed to properly balance environmental objectives with the economic and social wellbeing of farming communities, despite those considerations being central to the original Vision and Strategy for the Waikato and Waipa Rivers. The paper on Thursday 24th…

Andy Loader challenges changes to Simon Watts' Local Government (Systems Improvement) Bill, arguing that they strengthen council chief executives' control over information available to elected councillors. He questions the implications for democratic accountability, ratepayers' rights and council oversight, while raising wider concerns about co-governance and the coalition government's commitment to equal representation. Thanks to last-minute…