Politics
Everything about politics
News Briefing: 23 June 2025
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards HEALTH Guyon Espiner (RNZ): Nicotine lobbyists said Winston Peters was 'very powerful' and 'very industry friendly' Steve Randerson (Spin0ff): It’s time to shut the alcohol industry out of health policy in Aotearoa David Farrar: Smearing public servants is not
Labour’s Pet Pollsters Paint a Rosy Picture, but the Coalition’s Still Standing
This poll’s a wake-up call for National. Luxon needs to stop playing the bland CEO and start showing some fire.
Face of the Day
“I’m not taking any lectures from frickin’ Chris Hipkins and the Labour Party” – Luxon
New Vaccine Health Study’s Loaded Agenda
When it comes to personal physical health, we have a basic responsibility to thoroughly vet all authorities at all times, especially those clad in white lab coats.
Luxon’s Medical School Gamble: Throwing Cash at Waikato’s Shaky Reputation
Luxon’s Government gets a half-hearted pat on the back for sticking to their word. But pushing ahead with a medical school at an institution with a shaky academic reputation? That’s a gamble... and not a smart one.
News Briefing: 22 July 2025
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards WAIKATO MEDICAL SCHOOL Bryce Edwards (The Integrity Institute): Waikato Medical School – A Costly case study in policy capture Adam Pearse (Herald): Neil Quigley denies conflict of interest as Reserve Bank chairman amid Waikato medical school deal (paywalled) Giles Dexter and Jessica Hopkins (RNZ): Waikato
News Briefing: 21 July 2025
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards INFRASTRUCTURE Keiller MacDuff (RNZ): 'Announcement of an announcement': Govt accused of recycling projects in $6b infrastructure push RNZ: Govt says billions being spent on infrastructure will create thousands of jobs Bridie Witton (Stuff): Government promises $6b infrastructure blitz will create thousands more
The Ascendant Right and Wokeness
Wokeness is, of course, simply ‘radical leftism’ with its roots in African-American liberation theology and Marxist critical theory. It is not possible to apply the label woke to anything that is not radically left.
The SFO’s New Anti-Corruption Taskforce: A Toothless Tiger in a Corrupt Jungle
Let’s call this what it is: a PR stunt. The government is desperate to look like it’s doing something about corruption, so they’ve thrown together a hodgepodge of agencies, given it a fancy name and promised a report by Christmas.
News Briefing: 18 July 2025
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards LOCAL GOVERNMENT Russell Palmer (RNZ): 'Councils have lacked fiscal discipline’ Local Government Minister says Jonathan Milne Newsroom): Govt to explore sharing GST with councils next year Shanti Mathias (Spinoff): The tension between central and local government bubbles to the surface Sinead Gill (Press/
David Seymour Smacks Down Bureaucratic Whining Over Regulatory Standards Bill, Again
The deep state’s tantrums only prove his point: they’re terrified of a world where they have to show their workings.
News Briefing: 17 July 2025
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards EMPLOYMENT Neil Sands (Law News): Minister adopts Uber’s wish-list when drafting employment law changes, rejects official advice Phil Smith (RNZ): Parliament considering big changes to employment law Lillian Hanly (RNZ): Legislation that lets workers talk about salaries likely to pass into law Rob