This is edition 2026/014 of the Ten@10 newsletter.
Hi all,
This is the Ten@10, where I collate and summarise ten news items you generally won't see in the mainstream media.
Enjoy!
The Appointment of Judith Collins to head the Law Commission
Bryce Edwards
- ⚖️ Judith Collins appointed to Law Commission: Prime Minister Luxon announced Collins as the new President of the Law Commission, marking the first time a current politician has taken the role.
- 🔍 Independence compromised: The Law Commission is supposed to provide non-partisan advice, but Collins' history in politics, especially as a former National Party leader, raises concerns about its future impartiality.
- 🛑 Political patronage: The appointment is seen as political patronage, offering Collins a comfortable post-political position, drawing parallels with other National Party appointments in recent years.
- 👥 Lack of independence: Collins' career has been deeply entwined with the National Party, making it difficult for her to lead a commission that requires political detachment.
- 🔄 Cronyism and conflicts: Previous appointees, like Geoffrey Palmer, were independent of politics, while Collins' close ties to the National Party raise ethical questions about impartiality.
- 🏛️ Danger to democratic integrity: This appointment reflects a broader trend of National stacking public institutions with its allies, undermining the credibility of independent bodies.
- 🛠️ Need for reform: There are calls for clearer conflict-of-interest guidelines and a transparent, merit-based appointments process to prevent political influence from undermining public institutions.
