Clowns of the Day
“I’m so glad I bothered to adjourn the debate to allow the Māori Party to be in the House for the budget. Oh wait…” – Bishop
Politics
Everything about politics
Bob Jones, Rabuka and Me
It was classic Bob Jones mischief – mischief was one of the defining qualities of his public life – but it obviously stung Rabuka. He sued for defamation (as I recall, the amount claimed was one million dollars) and as editor of the Dom at the time, I was named as second respondent.
News Briefing: 23 May 2025
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards BUDGET SUMMARIES AND ANALYSIS Jo Moir (RNZ): Analysis: Finance Minister delivers 'nip and tuck’ Budget Janet Wilson (Post): Winners make gains at the expense of the strugglers (paywalled) Matthew Hooton (Herald): Budget reveals we’re going broke faster than we knew (paywalled) Jamie
‘Chumocracy’ and the Suppression of Prof MacCulloch
NZ needs more people like Robert MacCulloch willing to speak out. But if the price of dissent is this high, how many will choose to do so? His story is a good example of what happens when you dare to speak truth to power in a small country where the elites are all too interconnected.
Budget 2025: RNZ Gets a Trim, But the Media Gravy Train Keeps Chugging
This budget move should serve as a warning shot to every media outlet suckling at the government’s teat. You’re on notice: do your damn job. Report the facts, not your feelings.
News Briefing: Budget Special Edition
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards BUDGET - SUMMARIES AND ANALYSIS Laura Walters (Newsroom): Budget takes from squeezed middle for growth Lloyd Burr (Stuff): Budget 2025 is a bit bitsy - here are the best bits Luke Malpass (Post): Willis delivers more with less but fiscal risks remain (paywalled) Bridie
The Mandates of the Managerial State
Eventually, people will need digital ID, fingerprints, DNA, vaccine records, and social credit scores to be employed. It’s not coercive, just required for the job.
News Briefing: 22 May 2025
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards BUDGET RNZ: New Zealanders across political spectrum want increased spending on public services, poll finds Thomas Coughlan (Herald): Budget 2025: Nicola Willis to Labour: ‘Show me the money’ Tom Pullar-Strecker (Post): National says Labour divided on fiscal policy - here’s what was said
Heckler’s Free Speech Tantrum Doesn’t Excuse His Employment Blunder
The heckler wasn’t just some random punter exercising his rights. He’s a vociferous DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) spokesman for Tonkin + Taylor, a company that prides itself on ‘inclusivity’ and professionalism, especially when dealing with Government clients like KiwiRail.
News Briefing: 21 May 2025
Republished with Permission Author: Bryce Edwards TE PĀTI MĀORI SUSPENSION DEBATE RNZ: ACT asked for advice on range of punishments for Te Pāti Māori MPs - including imprisonment Kelly Dennett (Post): ACT MP Parmjeet Parmar sought imprisonment advice for Te Pāti Māori haka (paywalled) Russell Palmer (RNZ): Up for debate:
Te Pāti Māori’s Tantrum: Parliament’s Patience Wears Thin
Here we are, six months into this farce, with no end in sight. National’s dithering, Labour is hand-wringing and Te Pāti Māori’s still strutting around like they own the place. If this is what passes for leadership in 2025, God help us all.