NZ Politics
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[The Good Oil] January 2026 Political Poll
Take our Monthly Political Poll and then share the poll on social media. By sharing the poll you will help even more readers to discover The Good Oil.
2026 and Causes for Optimism
Both these articles give cause for optimism. The first discusses optimism from a political standpoint; the other, from the advantages New Zealand offers for those who chose to live here.
Abortions Jump 34% Since Law Change
Taking abortion out of the criminal code and inserting it into health legislation has given the unborn baby the same status as an appendix, gall bladder or tonsils – simply ’tissue’ removed as part of a ‘health procedure’.
This Colonisation Obsession Is Historically Illiterate
An argument for historical proportion, global context and intellectual honesty.
The Backlash Against This Starts
It is extraordinary that as countries such as the UK and the US move to protect children by stopping medical experimentation on them, here in New Zealand a judge of the High Court decides such treatments are OK and should proceed.
This Is Not Journalism
Puberty blockers and why disagreement with officials is actually allowed.
This Isn’t History – It’s Politics Backdated
History should inform today’s debates, not be reshaped to legitimise them. If constitutional change is proposed, it should be argued openly, on its merits, and decided democratically – not presented as an historical fact that cannot be questioned.
Bastion Point – the Untold Context
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.
The India Deal We Never Voted For
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.
Will NZ-India Trade Deal Survive NZ Parliament?
Labour now holds the fate of New Zealand-India trade deal.