NZ Politics
Nicola Willis’s Blunder: Handing Ruth Richardson a Megaphone She Doesn’t Deserve
How National’s political brains trust missed this is baffling. It is straight out of the playbook. Remember Ronald Reagan’s killer line from 1980: “Are you better off now than you were four years ago?” Swap in two years and it fits New Zealand like a glove.
Robust Sales for Book Release
Since opening for pre-order, the book has enjoyed strong early sales – an exceptional start for an indie non-fiction title – clearly demonstrating its strong potential to connect deeply with New Zealanders seeking authentic, unfiltered reflection on the Covid era.
No Bias in Two Recent Polls
Looking ahead to 2026 election year, my money is on the re-election of the coalition.
Do as I Say, Not as I Do
How did we reach a moment where a prime minister saying she wanted to punch another MP in the face is seen as acceptable by many?
Another Dismal Poll for National: Luxon Sinks Further as Election Looms
National cannot keep pretending everything is fine. This poll is a wake-up call, if they have not hit snooze too many times already. With 2026 looming, they better find some spine or prepare for a long stint in opposition.
This Just Confirms National’s Impoverished Imagination
Nice-to-haves and need-to-haves often amount to the same thing.
One Rule for Hīkoi, Another for Tamaki
Whether people like him or not, the Battle for the Bridge has only intensified. And from the sound of it, Tamaki has no intention of stepping back.
Muldoon’s Vision vs Today’s Technocrats
How NZ Super was built by a patriot and undermined by consultants.
The Untold Jacinda: A Book Review
JACINDA THE UNTOLD STORIES is an insightful, at times delightful, read – for anyone who’s not just trying to forget all about her.
The Elephant in the Room
British colonisation delivered literacy, medicine, infrastructure, government, economic development and the longest period of sustained peace the country had known. It was, relative to the alternatives, the most stable and least violent path New Zealand could realistically have taken.
2:1 Support for Ban on Puberty Blockers
National, ACT, NZ First and Te Pāti Māori supporters had net favourability to the ban, with Labour voters evenly split, and Green voters unsurprisingly opposed.
Willie Jackson’s MUMA Mess: McCarten Drops the Boardroom Bomb on Hipkins; Legacy Media Still Snoozing
Every day the legacy media buries its head, it’s another kick in the guts for those MUMA workers suffering in silence. They’ve abrogated their duty to hold power to account, preferring cosy chats with the powerful over gritty truth-telling.
Canterbury’s 175th Anniversary Is Celebrated
The celebration proceeded despite earlier attempts by council staff to discourage public recognition of the anniversary.