Seen in full, Bastion Point is not a story of unbroken bad faith. It is a complex episode shaped by changing laws, incentives, and expectations – and one that was ultimately resolved through return, compensation, and apology.
Trade should benefit NZ first. Immigration policy should serve the long-term stability of the nation, not the short-term political vanity of ministers. If we keep pretending those two things are unrelated, we should not be surprised when the NZ we wake up to feels less and less like home.