This is edition 2025/129 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
Last week I spent battling an awful flu, and something had to giver days of no slep and constant coughing... sadly it was the Ten@10.
I'm mostly recovered so here it is again. Thanks for your patience.
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
1. Breaking Out.
Chris Trotter
- 😲 David Seymour's Reaction: David Seymour is shocked by Tama Potaka's suggestion to amend the Regulatory Standards Bill (RSB) with recommendations on te Tiriti and tikanga, especially given the non-negotiable nature of the bill in their coalition agreement.
- 💥 Act's Firm Stance: Seymour has made it clear that the RSB must pass without any changes, and any deviation from this could unravel the coalition with National and NZ First.
- ⚖️ Act's Dilemma: There's a risk of political fallout for Act if they don’t honor their commitments. Walking away from the coalition could alienate their voters, damaging their electoral prospects.
- 🤝 NZ First’s Growing Influence: With Winston Peters playing the role of the reliable "voice of reason," Act may struggle to match his appeal, which strengthens NZ First's position as a key player on the Right.
- 🚨 Electoral Risks for National: National faces a challenge in dealing with the rise of minor parties like Act and NZ First, and Luxon may need to rein in his coalition partners to maintain the party’s dominance.
- 🎭 Luxon’s Strategic Choice: National could gain voter support if Luxon refuses to back Act and NZ First’s more extreme policies, showing strength and restoring confidence in National’s leadership.
- 🏛️ Seymour’s Political Strategy: Seymour’s goal is to showcase political courage by holding the coalition to its promises, regardless of potential fallout with National and NZ First.
- 🤷 Peters’ Position: NZ First seeks to position itself as the moderate, traditional alternative to more radical policies, aiming to serve as an "insurance policy" against political extremism.
- 🔄 National’s Risky Break-out: National must distinguish itself from Act and NZ First by demonstrating its own strength and recovering its electoral appeal, even if that means dealing with coalition tensions.
- 🌍 Potential for Labour’s Return: A disjointed National government could pave the way for a Labour win, provided they offer sensible policies that resonate with New Zealanders, though this would require strong moderation from the Greens and Te Pāti Māori.
