Articles in ‘Opinion’

Maori are the “Indigenous People of New Zealand”. At least that is what some would have us believe. · Many of the so-called tribal elite of the Iwi have been claiming that their people have a partnership right under the Treaty of Waitangi, and they are trying to achieve a co-governance role in NZ. One of the factors they use to back their claims for a partnership is the supposed status of Maori as the indigenous people of NZ. · We have been…

As Labour convenes in Auckland this weekend for its annual conference, the political atmosphere is almost unrecognisable from the despondent aftermath of the 2023 election defeat. The party that won just 26.9% of the vote less than two years ago now sits between 32-38% in recent polls. One-term governments are no longer unthinkable. Chris Hipkins, improbably, remains secure in his leadership without any meaningful challengers circling. Yet this…

The Green Party stated that they will revoke any consents or permits issued under this Government’s new fast-track legislation for coal mining, hard-rock gold mining and seabed mining. The Government’s bill covers mining as well as infrastructure, quarrying, housing, renewable energy and farming projects. · Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said the legislation had failed “even the most basic standards of transparency, accountability and…

The Nursing Council states that it is committed to ensuring Te Tiriti o Waitangi is instilled into the values of their organisation and is fundamental to the way in which the Council undertakes its statutory roles. As a regulatory authority, independent from the Crown, they state they have a responsibility to work with iwi and Māori to give effect to and realise the promise of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. · They state that achieving this will require…

New Zealand is in the midst of a debate over a single word: “corruption.” The explosive police cover-up scandal involving former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming and then-Commissioner Andrew Coster has rattled public trust. But is it corruption? In a country that prides itself on being “least corrupt”, many leaders are tripping over themselves to avoid the term. This reluctance at the top is now part of the scandal’s fallout, raising deeper…

We have recently seen many articles in the media related to the changes in the school curriculum championed by the Minister of Education, Hon Erica Stanford and the general consensus seems to be that they have seen almost an immediate upturn in basic literacy and numeracy for our children. Great news for all concerned as this is what the education system is there for; to educate our children and provide them with the skills to achieve in their…

The late Bruce Jesson captured something essential about New Zealand politics when he observed in the 1980s: “The National Party governs for capitalists. The Labour Party for capitalism”. Jesson was writing for Metro Magazine at the time, as their politics writer. What he meant was simple: National tends to hand out favours to their mates in business, cutting deals that keep the rich happy one by one. Labour, on the other hand, steps in during…

Yesterday’s bombshell report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority has exposed what Public Service Minister Judith Collins starkly described as corruption within New Zealand’s police force. On the question of whether the IPCA findings amounted to corruption, Collins was blunt: “If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck”. Her assessment of the scandal was equally damning: “a total lack of leadership and integrity at the highest…

There currently seems to be a radical agenda to advance Maori supremacy instead of democracy in New Zealand. This is being supported in a large part by a network of bureaucrats and academics, who, along with a vast array of private sector advocates including many in the legacy media and the unions are promoting race-based changes. This network of bureaucrats, academics and others who are championing this promotion of race based changes which…

We are currently hearing much commentary from some Maori in relation to ownership of land in New Zealand. The fact is that land in New Zealand held under Māori Title is now approximately 6 per cent of the total land mass. The commentary seems to be making the inference that this has come about because the land was taken from their ancestors and there was something untoward in the fact that Maori have ended up with only 6 percent of the land in…