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February 6, 2025 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 06 February 2025

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General Debate

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Simon

Follow the Money Day.
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February 6, 2025 8:01am
- Damocles11
  
  Tama Potaka has a post on The National party Facebook page trumpeting $200 million dollars of taxpayer money going to race-based Maori housing. This has been met with a hailstorm of angry and bitter comments, with a typical response being “what about our elderly?” and “what about other New Zealanders?” and “National promised to end this nonsense!”
  Where is all this money coming from to fund these race-based programmes? We are borrowing money hand over fist yet we have another $200 million to give away to one racial group. What is going on and how do we stop it?
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:08am
  - John Loveridge
    
    Ouch! I took a look. Mr Potaka will need cream for that burn.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:13am
    - Damocles11
      
      School bus routes for rural communities are being scrapped while this government pours hundreds of millions into race-based programmes to benefit just one racial group. Did we ever think we’d see New Zealand reduced to the state it is now in?
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:45am
  - Close Hen Counters
    
    Because Waitangi Day is only about those cringeworthy embarrassing Maori radicals up north and not all New Zealanders … I’m over the programme and looking to bail … national are never going to be all over this, instead keep pandering to these losers who are never going to vote national
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:37pm
- Ultima
  
  Happy Racist Day
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:33am
Steve Otto N Shore

NZCPR.
Dr Muriel Newman.

https://www.nzcpr.com/waitangi-day-2025/#more-40425

Michael Bassett,

https://www.nzcpr.com/maori-party-madness/#more-40420
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February 6, 2025 8:02am
- Northshoredoc
  
  Nice piece by Michael Bassett, of course the usual suspects with puff out their chests and cry racism but have no substantive rebuttal to his points.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:18am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Am I a “guest” in my own country?
  
  Some are now calling the 83% of New Zealanders who aren’t Maori, “guests” or “visitors” to the country where they are citizens. Many of long standing.
  
  According to some radicals, the 83% are “manuhiri”, a word traditionally used on marae to describe someone visiting from another tribe.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:17am
  - lastmanstanding
    
    Ungrateful Maori. My ancestors should have arrived 40 or 50 years later. They would have wiped themselves out and we wouldnt have the problem.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:19am
    - kevn
      
      last… The French in the 1800’s or much later on, the Japanese would have sped up the decline.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:40am
      - Don Beckett
        
        Yes, happy White Hanging Day. 😆
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:40am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    The radical activists see us as “manuhiri.”
    I see them as visitors, immigrants just as white man is.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:38am
    - Damocles11
      
      When a guy called Wiremu Burton or Hone Nicholls wants to lecture somebody else about their ‘colonist ancestors’ then something obvious deserves to be pointed out.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:45am
    - David Garrett
      
      Steve O: The late David Lange once said – at Canterbury Uni when I was a student there: “Everyone in New Zealand is an immigrant, or descended from one”. That didn’t go down to well with many of the pigmented students; even more than 30 years ago they were moaning about their lot.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:53am
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        Lange was only speaking the truth.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:33am
      - NZer In Exile
        
        Lange had not been infected with the woke mind virus. Rational thought on the left was still possible back then.
        
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        February 6, 2025 4:23pm
  - Flossie
    
    As a person of mixed heritage I am confused as to which I am. Are my full “white” family members any different to the mixed ones? I am actually quite frightened of where this Maori vengefulness is going.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:47am
    - David Garrett
      
      Flossie: I share your trepidation, as the father of two half Tongan children. Both of them currently strongly identify as Tongan – notwithstanding that half of their blood is mine, and I am white as can be.
      
      My kids are often wrongly identified as being part Maori. If civil war broke out in NZ – and I believe that is a distinct possibility, even in my lifetime – I have no idea what side they would identify with.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:56am
    - Damocles11
      
      I think as a person of mixed heritage you are supposed to pretend your white ancestors don’t exist, or state they came from ‘colonised’ Ireland or Scotland and not England (apparently that makes a difference). You are supposed to describe yourself solely as ‘Maori’. You are supposed to adopt a grievance mentality and rant about the sins of ‘colonisation’, including the trope ‘colonists stole my land’. You are supposed to adopt new-age Maori mysticism with its claims that Maori ‘science’ and ways of living are vastly superior to that of the ‘colonists’. If possible wear a massive tiki and Victorian era clothing. And anyone disagreeing with you is to be abused as a ‘racist’, do not attempt any reasonable debate or civilised discourse.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:56am
      - pdm
        
        Are Cowboy hats optional?
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:59pm
    - Paulus
      
      I agree, but as I am in the very twilight of my life with only over 50years in New Zealand, I leave the increasing problem to my children and grandchildren.
      And just have anothe beer on New Zealand Day, as it was when we arrived as immigrants – (3 year short term job) , and stayed.
      We believe we have all contribute in many social aspects, work, and taxes.
      I do not like what I see today, but Cheers.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:33am
      - Allan
        
        My children and grandchildren are not going to deal with this problem.
        
        They have already departed to better places to live.
        
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        February 6, 2025 2:56pm
    - PurplePen
      
      I don’t know that you need to be frightened. The ones making all the noise are very much a minority of Maori I suspect (Based on no empirical evidence). Their noise and that some of the noisy Maori also have seats in parliament sell newspapers for MSM and hence enable them to sell advertising. So it looks worse than it is as that’s all you see in the MSM. I could be a bit naive perhaps.
      
      Thousands were expected to turn up to Waitangi this year. The ODT reported that they never turned up. What does that say about the noise from some Maori and what does that say about the silent Maori majority.
      
      There are areas of concern such as wayward ministries ignoring government instruction, wayward local authorities also with respect to Maori wards etc. I’m hopeful the local authorities will be dealt to later this year. As for wayward ministries, it’s disappointing government hasn’t dealt to this with rapid action when they so easily could.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:43am
      - Cantabrian
        
        As there are no Moari by the pre-1975 definition (full or half blood), all activists are pretenders. And they are aided by recent immigrants, many from North America. I have two ‘Maori’ grandchildren who have no interest what-so-ever in ‘engaging with their roots’. My daughter-in-law and her family are Canadians who arrived here in the 1980s. They have fallen overboard for the revisionist nonsense and the ‘poor Maori’ cries. Similarly with my sister and her husband, an Australian and an avowed socialist.. These johnny-come-lately busy bodies are vocal about any government action that they think makes things worse for the ‘poor Maori’, without any recognition that there are poor non-Maori as well. It all comes back to the lie that the settlers stole Maori land and destroyed their lives. Poppycock.
        
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        February 6, 2025 3:47pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      ” I am actually quite frightened of where this Maori vengefulness is going.”
      
      It appears to mostly be young part Maoris, egged on by some hardcore older grifters/haters and stupid non-Maori woketards (again mostly young but there are many older fellow air-heads in the arts and humanities spaces).
      
      Here in Aus I bumped into a young “wahine” who really has had very little to do with the “old country” (NZ) but still wished there were more “brown people” in her home town in NZ “instead of the Indians buying up everything”. Young part Maori have been fed a diet of entitlement and specialness by deranged academics spewing falsehoods for several decades. We see the results now.
      
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      February 6, 2025 4:29pm
  - BananaLlama
    
    How can you be Manuhiri when you and your ancestors built the cities that we all live in, you would have/be Mana Whenua now.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:30am
- imalwaysright
  
  Here’s someone talking about corruption of Maori funding.
  Maori stealing from other maori.
  It seems that the only people they hate more than white people is each other.
  
  https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18nzoUDtiw/
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:23am
  - kowtow
    
    Yes , it’s funny in this woke era of offensive names , themes etc how only the white ‘colonial settler’ names , statues , commemorations are offensive.
    
    I often wonder how the South Island Maoris view such places as the Te Rauparaha Events Centre , for example , given his genocidal invasive slaving and cannibalising across much of their “rohe” .
    
    And then we had an excellent poster , if i remeber correctly who told us how the Maori Battalion , in reserve at the famous night attack at El Alamein , broken into companies and spread across the rear of the rest of the NZ division , cos they couldn’t be trusted not to shoot at each other ! ( Happy to be corrected on that one , as the old brain cells aren’t as sharp as they used to be )
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:35am
    - lastmanstanding
      
      My late Dad served in 21st Battalion alongside the 28th Maori Battalion in North Africa and Italy for 5 years. He told me when the new Maori recruits arrived the Commander asked them what tribe and they were put in Company A/B/C representing the 3 largest tribes. The rest or those that didnt know their tribe were out in Company D. Dad had many mates in the 28th and I recall as a kid the get togethers over DB Brown or Lion Red.
      
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      February 6, 2025 1:09pm
- Lara
  
  I’ve just read it and it’s scary what is happening in our country.
  We need to get her articles in the MSM – haha, not a show with the left shutting out everything but their own opinion!
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:28am
Cassandra

I was raised in a Methodist community, my entire formative years. It was supportive and caring. The current leader did not speak for me at Waitangi. Like most of the conventional church in New Zealand it has become left wing and woke and is dying. Waitangi is a farce, the Day is a nonsense and I’m sick of it all but above all I’m sick of paying for it. The Maori side will never go away but those of us who pay the piper should call the tune.
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February 6, 2025 8:19am
- Philview
  
  I have started listening to anti woke Christian pastors online such as Chris Wickland in the UK. I have yet to find an NZ equivalent but they must be out there. I saw youtube footage this week of an Australian vicar giving a fiery speech at a free Tommy Robinson rally. I feel a bit uncomfortable with such confrontational Christianity but the guys standing up are clearly brave men who feel there is no other option.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:35am
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Philview: “I have yet to find an NZ equivalent”
    
    Destiny?
    
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    February 6, 2025 3:10pm
- cmm
  
  “The Maori side will never go away”
  
  People respond to incentives. That is why it is only growing.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:57am
- lastmanstanding
  
  More smarts from The Donald re Gaza. He is baiting the Arab states to get involved in rehousing and rebuilding Gaza. Egypt and Jordan will be “persuaded” to rehouse the Palestinians. The US the Arab states and other countries will pour billions into a 15/20 year rebuilding programme. It will benefit their economies and the rest of the West including NZ. Remember the impact of the Marshall Plan after WW2.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:26am
  - Ra Henare
    
    Its always best to first identify the problem before suggesting the solutions.
    IMHO
    
    The real estate developer sees the problem as a building redevelopment problem.
    
    Palestinians see the problem as self-determination in their homelands.
    
    Israelies see the problem as ridding themselves of an irritant that has existed since 1948.
    
    The UN sees the problem as ????? who knows.
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:53pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    I don’t think many surrounding nations want to absorb the cancer they have helped to grow in Gaza. Jordan tried previously then spat them back apparently after too much bloodshed and mayhem occured.
    
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    February 6, 2025 3:14pm
- Paulus
  
  Many of our religious leader within the broader Anglican Churches are now well outspoken Lady Clergy, with extreme view in everything.
  No wonder the numbers have, and are declining rapidly.
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:36am
  - lifesgood
    
    Anglican Church is a joke. When I was growing up it was a bit of a status symbol to belong, important to be seen there more than anything….the Royal religion, don’t you know…but it has failed to live up to basic morality in many ways and the royal family are no longer important to many people so there’s that.
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:48pm
NK

I’m also sick of paying for Maori TV when iwi has billions of dollars and should pay for it themselves.

There’s an opinion piece in the Herald from Mr Luxon which is promoted as why he won’t agree with passing the TPB.

Except there’s no reasons at all. There’s literally one sentence on it. Luxon appears to make equivalents between treaty settlements and the Bill. They have nothing to do with each other.
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February 6, 2025 8:24am
- igm
  
  If it is correct, rumours around state maori are funding a number of MSM, including Stuff and MZME. Looking at the pro-maori stance of these failures it would not be surprising.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:38am
- Paulus
  
  Why do we see so much Maori on TVNZ, for example, when Maori have two TV Programmes of their own, paid for by the taxpayers,which of course nobody understands anyway.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:42am
  - riffer
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Because Maori are New Zealanders, and our national television station has a mandate to reflect our national identity.
    
    And as for nobody understanding it, that’s ridiculous. Most New Zealanders understand at least 100 words of te reo, likely more, and as the language is more commonly shown that list of understood words grows.
    
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    February 6, 2025 8:45am
    - Damocles11
      
      We are supposed to have a national day to celebrate this country. We currently do not have one. Waitangi Day is about one group of people and one group only. We need a day on which we can celebrate New Zealand.
      
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      February 6, 2025 8:49am
      - pdm
        
        At the moment it is ANZAC Day.
        
        However, I favour a return to New Zealand Day on the 6 February every year.
        
        After all it worked well in the 70’s until he Kirk Government changed it.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:23am
      - PurplePen
        
        pdm “After all it worked well in the 70’s until he Kirk Government changed it”.
        
        I have misread you pdm. Kirk made it NZ Day then Muldoon changed it back to Waitangi Day to court the Maori vote.
        
        But yep. We need 6 Feb to be NZ Day to celebrate NZ culture, whatever that is, jandals and pineapple lumps, etc. ANZAC isn’t it as the focus is on not forgetting the stupidity of the aristocracy pissing contest that was WWI, our people being used as cannon fodder.
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:56am
    - Terry Dalee
      
      So your not a New Zealander if you don’t understand at least 100 words of Manglish?
      
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      February 6, 2025 8:55am
      - riffer
        
        Au contraire. You just don’t understand the language. Your choice.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:58am
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      TVNZ is the propaganda arm of the Labour Party and the Labour Lite Party.
      
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      February 6, 2025 8:59am
      - Pope Punctilious II
        
        You forgot the Rainbow Party and Te Paati Racist.
        
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        February 6, 2025 9:37am
      - thirteenstars
        
        Generally, yes, but when it comes to Net Zero, Paris targets and bankrupting NZ through climate reparations, they are right behind Luxon and the other National Teals.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:45am
    - cmm
      
      A few words do not make a language. If someone says “sushi” are they magically speaking Japanese?
      
      How many people can actually communicate in Maori, as opposed to Manglish?
      
      I would think that less than 1% of NZers could, say, listen to the news with some reasonably complex analysis in Maori or a 1 hour documentary and comprehend it entirely.
      
      That “national identity” you speak of is talking bro and cuz, it isn’t the Maori language.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:03am
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        I sometimes confuse our Alaskan friends when I let a bit of manglish slip out without realising it.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:41am
      - Don Beckett
        
        I think your 1% is rather light. As one who has many Maori relatives & have had a fair bit to do with them over the years, I would put the figure at more like 5-6%. Many Pakeha have been learning Maori over the past few decades, and if you go into the country areas which are predominantly Maori, you will find that the first language is Maori – places like Murupara, Ruatahuna and up north around the Hokianga. In the cities you may well be correct though.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:48am
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Don, places like Ruatahuna have almost nil people living there. I agree with your premise that there are parts of the country where te reo Maori is the first language of the locals, but not your 5-6% estimate.
        
        In any case, they’ll not be watching TVNZ because they’ll be tuned into Maori TV, right?
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:47pm
      - pdm
        
        DB you can probably add Ruatoria to your list.
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:03pm
      - JerJer
        
        I think it’s true that most people in New Zealand would know 100 Māori words or more. That is because we have many place names that are Māori, but to me and most people they are not considered Māori words they are just place names or the names of birds of whatever. So, really just useless facts. Yes, the 100 words
        May be known but since they are place names embedded in the English language they can not be strung together and you are speaking Māori. That’s just a lie put up by idiots to try and prove that Māori is not a dead (or soon to be dead) language. You are correct, if I say sushi or tempanyaki I am not speaking Japanese and it is the same for Māori. We in NZ are pretty slow starters but the nationalism being started by Trump in the USA is going to engulf NZ in about 12 months time. It is going to be over for these loonies that think they can change our language. They are not going to like the next 18 months. The government is slowly dismantling and defunding them and it will only accelerate.
        
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        February 6, 2025 2:12pm
    - Benedict Yu
      
      “Most New Zealanders understand at least 100 words of te reo,..”
      
      Really? That would surprise me outside the Wellington and state sector bubbles.
      
      As for the language and identity, sure. However I would add two qualifiers.
      
      Firstly English is an amazing language. It does incorporate some words from other languages, but this incorporation evolves over decades. In New Zealand, this incorporation is being forced by the woke. It detracts from communication, sometimes severely.
      
      Secondly, the promotion of a Maori English hybrid language is entwined in the promotion of a Maori world view. You cannot learn the language without accepting the culture, which includes waiata, te ao Maori and so on. The latter has gone way too far.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:08am
      - pdm
        
        `…….the promotion of a Maori English hybrid language………….’
        
        Do you mean pidgin as in Papua New Guinea?
        
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        February 6, 2025 9:12am
      - thirteenstars
        
        Wouldn’t surprise me. North of fifty, at least.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:48am
      - Paulus
        
        I have difficulty believing that most New Zealander’s – 84% of the population, know at leat 100 Te Reo words.
        Toitoi !
        One of several ways for saying rubbish in Te Reo.
        Like the TOW you can use whatever translation you want.
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:43am
      - Ra Henare
        
        One small amendment Bene(Have learned 4 languages, including Maori)
        
        You cannot learn the language without accepting the culture
        
        IMHO
        
        You cannot learn the language without UNDERSTANDING the culture
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:58pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        Yes Ra, the language is actually the key to the culture – that is why I started to learn the Maori language back in 1975 in Rotorua, and the classes I attended were 70% Maori, so even in Rotorua in those days, many Maori there did not know their language other than a few phrases .
        Unfortunately I had a change of employment later in the year so I could not complete my School C. in Maori.
        
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        February 6, 2025 3:48pm
      - Don Beckett
        
        Maybe the downticker disagreed with my learning Maori. Remember that this was the 1970’s, before all the bullshit started in the mid 1980’s. Back then it was common for people to be interested.
        
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        February 6, 2025 7:33pm
      - Ghost
        
        I remember primary school in Rotorua, mostly Māori class, doing the stick game or singing Māori songs. None of the Māori kids knew the words or songs. It was fun, everyone loved that part of class. It was much different then. We wanted to learn the sticks game, the poi, the songs. Somewhere along the way the past few decades it changed.
        
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        February 6, 2025 7:57pm
    - yobi
      
      Please don’t speak for me or my fellow New Zealanders. No we don’t understand at least 100 words in maori, I don’t even know what the words te reo means and quite frankly have no interest in what they mean.
      riffer, you are part of the problem.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:10am
      - kowtow
        
        Yobi
        Couldn’t agree more .
        I’ll not have the regime tell me what words I will be addressed in or should use , to advance their clearly undemocratic and divisive agenda.
        
        Furthermore I deeply resent the fact my taxes are being used for same.
        
        It’s not theft , it’s robbery as it’s being done under threat of force .
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:38am
      - riffer
        
        I’m not part of the problem mate; I’m part of the solution. Many folks on this site don’t realise exactly how small a percentage of the population know as little as they do.
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:01am
      - I remember when
        
        yobi:
        While you don’t understand 100 words in Maori many, maybe most, school leavers in recent years probably do.
        If we take numbers, days of the week, and colours alone we are already around thirty.
        However, there is a difference between understanding words and actually using them.
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:03am
    - Gravelroad
      
      Sorry riffer, but I do not “understand at least 100 words of Te Reo” , and I suspect neither do many of my friends, family and other contacts.
      Perhaps you might broaden your horizons somewhat and think that just because you and your associates can, or wish to, speak Te Reo , this does not apply to all New Zealanders.
      Trying to force individuals to speak other languages (especially languages that have limited relevance and only to small set of isolated people) never works. It has to be a personal choice.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:12am
      - PurplePen
        
        Yes, back in the 70’s we were taught the Hail Mary in Maori, colours and numbers and that’s about it. Still remember 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 but the rest is forgotten. The sisters of mercy were great at drilling numbers. Oh … and we were taught to play some stick games. That was fun. I’d say unless you have a cause to use it, you’ll lose it. Which is what will happen to the current wave of school attendees.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:01pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        I know 100 words in Maori. Let’s see, we’ll start with Kaitaia, that place up North. Then there’s Kerikeri, a place so good they named it twice. And Whangarei, although they should have spelt it with an ‘F’ – dunno what the Williams brothers were thinking when they left a few letters out of the written Maori language. And so on.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:55pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        Consider this:
        Generally speaking, you have learnt a new language in the last 20 years. or are you a true curmudgeon still using a phone with a wire and only voice communication. 🙂
        
        Think Smartphone/Internet (words like Apps, Android, facetime, facebook, Social media, Kiwiblog, Vblog, youtube, coverage, ISP Plan, Roaming etc)
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:04pm
      - Paulus
        
        But of course going for a job application will be enhanced by your knowledge of Maori
        – it is sad that you cannot write, or even spell, in Maori so what’s the job ?
        I assume that the job/dole applications in Winz has a Maori version ?
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:24pm
    - Observer of Life
      
      Riff: “Most New Zealanders understand at least 100 words of te reo, likely more…”. I call rubbish on that. I don’t.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:18am
      - riffer
        
        You are part of a small, and ever-decreasing, minority in this country then. Without getting into generational conflict (I’m a Gen X) this is very much a boomer issue. It’s not your fault. Things were different when you grew up.
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:02am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        Maybe it is generational. Here is what I am seeing. Right now. Graduates of University who cannot write professionally in English. Maybe they know 100 te reo words. But if they cannot write to a high standard in English, they are professionally screwed. Doubly so if they seek to work outside New Zealand.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:10pm
      - wsk12345
        
        I’m Also a gen x (50 ish).
        I know 1-4, the word for green and ka mate I believe means kill or something like that.
        I think kiora is hello.
        That’s it for me.
        I did 2 years of Maori in high school (compulsory). We did action songs and entertained ourselves while the “teacher” did “weaving” (threading plastic stuff through boards with holes in it – not proper weaving) for the marae.
        
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        February 6, 2025 6:59pm
      - Observer of Life
        
        Riff: Well Im Gen X too, as are most of my friends. They too wouldn’t know 100 words.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:21pm
    - Cassandra
      
      Throwing in the odd Maori word does not reflect a national identity. Here’s a word for you, riffer: rapihi.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:21am
      - riffer
        
        Your opinion.
        
        Here’s another words back at you.
        
        kuare
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:03am
      - Jack5
        
        🙃Riffer in his 11.03 post didn’t use the macron. It’s kūare.
        
        As a noun, the word means an ignoramus.
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:38am
      - Cassandra
        
        Let’s get this right, riffer. You believe that using a few Maori words makes the NZ identity? I live in a community of 600 people. Not one of them uses Maori words in the course of conversation. 75% of them were born here. I have 12 grandchildren. Not one of them uses more than a couple of Maori words. Only one of our 6 children, a teacher, could speak a sentence in Maori. I served my country in three wars, my grandfather was born here in 1879. Am I a visitor?
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:55am
      - Steve Todd
        
        @Jack5 @ 11:38AM
        
        Great to see you now realise the importance of macrons, Jack.
        
        A few years ago, you and I had a minor exchange regarding something Māori, and when, in reply to me you started off by reproducing a sentence or two of mine, you had, in the context of the exchange, removed the macrons.
        
        I call that progress. Well done.
        
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        February 6, 2025 2:16pm
    - graham
      
      ” Most New Zealanders understand at least 100 words of te reo, likely more …”
      
      Really? That figure seems a little optimistic. For myself, a born and bred New Zealander who has lived here for over 50 years, I would say I can understand maybe 30. Although, I do note that a University of Canterbury study carried out in 2023 claims non-Maori-speaking Kiwis can understand the meanings of about 70 Maori words or part-words. Even that seems a trifle optimistic to me, but I’ll take it at face-value.
      
      With the previous Labour Government having set a goal for one million Kiwis to be speaking basic te reo Maori by 2040, I expect we will see increasing urgency from the Maori Language Commission (and many, many other agencies) pushing to increase this figure any way they can. Whether they will succeed, and Nanaia Mahuta will achieve her stated aim of “I want to hear it in the sporting arenas and shopping malls, I want to sit down at any restaurant in Aotearoa and order my meal in te reo Māori” remains to be seen. Time will tell.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:23am
      - PurplePen
        
        What’s their definition of “speaking basic te reo”? How does one speak basic French, Maori or any language. No point if the recipient doesn’t ‘speak’ it also. Plus, why would you engage in communicating in basic any language when you and your recipients already are fully conversant in one language already. Afterall, the point is you will always want to communicate effectively and efficiently. Day-to-day communication is always lazy, efficient.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:09pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        Graham
        Interesting reflection after you mention the Maori language commission.
        
        Where is the English language commission (anywhere in the world).
        Unlike multiple languages, Maori, French, Spanish etc with their official language bodies.
        
        English is TOTALLY unregulated, with no English language governing body.
        
        One could argue, that is why it has become the defacto international language and absorbs many foreign words. Each major grouping of English speakers have their own words, idioms.
        
        Think American Trash, verse NZ rubbish.
        Sidewalk, Footpath etc etc
        
        So the Manglish you complain about is just NZ English absorbing Maori words.
        
        So reflect on that when you order Pizza (Italian)
        Use the words Anger, law (norse)
        Telephone (French)
        Defacto (Latin)
        etc (Latin)
        
        This will be a useful reference next time you use what you think is English
        https://www.etymonline.com/
        
        So Manglish is in your future as NZ English absorbs Maori.
        Remembering of course that Maori absorbed English over the last 200 years.
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:23pm
    - CJames
      
      People might recognise 100 or more Maori words but do they understand the meaning behind them, particularly the concepts? Take a commonly used word like whanau – exactly which group of relatives and the wider group does it refer to? When one looks at the uses of it, the groupings covered seems to be ever expanding.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:31am
      - Hard Cheese
        
        Claiming that the Māori language is alive and relevant because people know 100 words of it is stupid. Knowing 100 words of any language doesn’t make you any more conversational than a tourist asking for directions or a jibbering idiot. It’s only alive in the sense of using a corpse as a string puppet.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:08pm
      - PurplePen
        
        What happens when people use whanau in English is that it develops its own meaning just as many words do over time. I suspect whanau in English just means wider family. Any wider Maori concepts will be discarded or lost in time.
        
        For example ‘threshold’ was what was put across a door to hold the thresh (straw) on the floor in. The thresh making the floor more comfortable. But no-one thinks of this when they use the word today. Not the best example, but I’m sure you get what I mean.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:14pm
      - Paulus
        
        I thought that Whanau is the Mayor of Wellington ?
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:26pm
    - Damocles11
      
      Now I why Simon Dallow keeps saying “aye, farkin A” on the News. We all are supposed to be hearing the constant repetition of these words and phrases so the Leftists can falsely claim the populace ‘understand Te Reo’. Sneaky, cunning mongrels.
      
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      February 6, 2025 10:22am
      - Countrygirl
        
        I agree. However if we don’t know what he is saying in the first place it is absolutely no use.
        I think when learning a language you start with learning nouns, so “tane” and “wahine” outside the toilets, complete with diagrams, (and English translation) would be examples of actually helping people learn.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:20pm
    - Jack5
      
      Paulus’s point about Maori language on State-owned or State-subsidised TV also applies to radio.
      
      Radio NZ was early captured in Maorification. It was pioneer target. This, despite the State subsidising 20 or so tribal radio stations.
      
      Subsidised TV3 and the online arm of TVNZ are about to broadcast umpteen hours of national haka competition. This, while State-subsidised Maori TV has two active channels.
      
      In the background to this is the racial partition of wireless frequencies. Some were apportioned to Maori for management and leasing out.
      
      A people who before colonisation had no written language and were using stone, bone, and wooden tools entitled to two stakes in the wireless spectrum?
      
      Two stakes, because they like other New Zealanders, Maori as citizens also partly own the national share in the spectrum.
      
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      February 6, 2025 10:46am
    - artemisia
      
      As it happens I know more than 100 reo words, but have never had any need to use them in conversation, even when working for years in the Maori sector. Occasionally in an introduction on a marae.
      
      But there is a whole lot of virtue signalling that probably puts plenty of folk right off. For example, the Wellington City Library goes overboard in its physical signage and website. How about –
      
      Big bold letters –
      Kawepūrongo
      
      Underneath, not bold –
      News
      
      Not a subtle nudge. And that’s just for starters.
      
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      February 6, 2025 12:12pm
      - PurplePen
        
        Latin was used in the same way, to signal class if not intellectual status. Maori is the new Latin in NZ. At this point I’d like to finish with some pithy clever Latin phrase. But all I can think of is Quid pro quo. Or the innocuous Id est.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:18pm
    - BananaLlama
      
      If you can count past 10 in Maori you could easily get to 100 words. It’s kind of meaningless because i don’t have a clue what anyone is saying when they speak fluent Maori anymore than you would if i were to speak in my local NZ accent.
      
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      February 6, 2025 12:14pm
      - Paulus
        
        Originally we call it Te Reo was not in itself a language because we are told that the TOW signing only as many as 80 words were understood, hence no signatures, only marks, as we know them.
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:30pm
    - lifesgood
      
      How utterly insulting to suggest that Maoriism is our National identity. It is for only a tiny % of NZers. Certainly not my identity. I am ashamed that we have the haka for visiting guests and it is meant to be something we are proud of. Not me that’s for sure. Just rude, insulting combative. I know of no other country in the world that greets guests this way.
      
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      February 6, 2025 1:53pm
      - Cantabrian
        
        100 upticks!
        
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        February 6, 2025 3:55pm
    - surfing
      
      “Because Maori are New Zealanders”
      
      Unless you’ve been on another planet the last 20 years, Maori want to be their own group of people. ie, not New Zealanders, but a special race that controls the rest of us.
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:17pm
      - Ghost
        
        Some
        
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        February 6, 2025 2:25pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      riffer : “Because Maori are New Zealanders, and our national television station has a mandate to reflect our national identity. ”
      
      A typically rubbery justification that boiled down means absolutely nothing.
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:16pm
- Unity
  
  It’s just common sense that a document written in 1840 would no longer be relevant in 2025 especially when Maori were a primitive people that had never progressed. You only have to look at the beautiful buildings etc in England compared with the huts Maori were living in. They stomp, chant and dance with ugly facial contortions, and make demands. It’s all they know. The Treaty should be irrelevant today.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:25am
  - riffer
    
    Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
    Gosh, that’s a really superficial and ignorant stance.
    
    The level of racism in this site astounds me some times.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:05am
    - Interested Party
      
      Yes the language may not be PC sometimes. From an anthropology perspective, pre European times, Maori is regarded as a Stone Age culture. It doesn’t mean they were not intelligent, it just reflects their societal development stage. At the same time Tonga was considered a more developed society
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:32am
    - NZer In Exile
      
      Riffer everyone alive today was born into the modern world. What your mob (brainwashed lefties) and history-distorting radical haters and wreckers ignore, is the trillions of dollars of modern infrastructure that has been invested into this country. That infrastructure (hospitals, schools, universities, roads, transport, bridges, houses etc etc) vastly improved the lives of everyone in the country. So the comparison to the truth of “grass huts” is entirely relevant and not at all “racist”.
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:23pm
  - I remember when
    
    “They stomp, chant and dance with ugly facial contortions…”
    
    I think that the haka has allowed Maori men to present as aggressive and continue to act as warriors.
    This has not always been in their best interests.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:16am
    - Flossie
      
      And more and more these days women too.
      
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      February 6, 2025 12:40pm
    - surfing
      
      I wonder how long it took the stone age cavepeople to shake their prehistoric traditions, such as war dances and the like.
      
      Such cultural appendages are a bit juvenile in today’s enlightened times.
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:20pm
  - PurplePen
    
    I’d say it wasn’t that they had never progressed. Like all humans they were progressing, they were just somewhat post-stoneage, when the rest of the western world, such as it was, discovered them. There’s similar human groups in existence today that haven’t yet progressed beyond stoneware but I’m sure they will, it just takes time.
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:23pm
    - NothingLeft
      
      Human evolution has for the most part ended. Within a few decades most, or perhaps all, children will be genetically designed for more optimal attributes, like the movie Gattacca predicted. Assuming our ASI masters care about our well being they will be controlling how we, their pets, breed.
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:32pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    Hear of the Magna Carta? (basis of rights)
    written in 1215 and still referenced today in Modern English.
    
    But of course the progress of the document from 1215 until modern day could also be used to address the Treaty of Waitangi. ie Magna Carter has changed over the centuries as Britain(and USA) kept fiddling with it
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:32pm
- imalwaysright
  
  The food on offer at Waitangi looked great.
  Hopefully there will be some leftovers for the kids school lunches…
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:50am
  - Paulus
    
    Understand anybody at Waitangi can gorge and collect as much food of all sorts, as they can get and there are we are told millions of our taxpayers dollars there to eat (and to be taken away) cooked by, used to be the Army.
    Nothingi life is free – is it ?
    Nah ! only the positive actual taxpayer pays for it.
    .Shane Jones has raised the costs of the whole thing
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:47pm
Benedict Yu

Just FYI..

I will not be posting any further comments on vaccines, or on RFK JR, or on climate change science. Climate change policies yes.

So happy Waitangi Day. 🤡

Is there any other nation with such a divided and unhappy national day? According to Wikipedia, only Denmark and the UK have no national day. I suggest we become the third.

Just add another holiday at Christmas. 27 December. We could celebrate the life of a great New Zealander such as Ernest Rutherford. However even that would start a shit fight. 🤡It would be called a celebration of “Western science”.

So enjoy your day. Enjoy Kiwiblog. Contemplate the remaining good things about living here. If you do think about our history, you could contemplate the achievements of great scientists and the hard working folk who built the roads, power stations, farms, railways, scientific institutions, and laws that formed the basis for modern New Zealand.

Enjoy your day off, if you are having one. 🙂
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February 6, 2025 8:25am
- Bridgenag
  
  Yes Thanks BY A Happy day for New Zealanders all.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:27am
- CJames
  
  Good strategy BY
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:36am
- riffer
  
  Australia Day is similarly controversial.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:46am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    Somewhat controversial. However there is nothing similar about it. Most Australians celebrate Australia Day. Sporting events, carnivals, music events. There is no celebration here. Most folk simply tune out from the fighting and quietly enjoy the day off.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:19am
    - Terry Dalee
      
      Having had my first Australia Day as a resident, I’ll attest to that.
      They can have a debate here without people singing over you or taking microphones off you either. And the mainstream media over here appears to be more balanced and positive. Less navel gazing.
      
      Even the wife said, I can watch the news again….
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:57am
    - Observant Octagenarian
      
      Sorry, you are incorrect. Native Australians now call this “Invasion Day”, and have major protests.
      
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      February 6, 2025 10:36am
      - Cassandra
        
        Not within cooee of what goes on in NZ.
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:58am
      - Terry Dalee
        
        And most Australians roll their eyes and carry on with what they were doing…..
        
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        February 6, 2025 8:07pm
  - Allan
    
    Only because of the manafactured outrage from a few [Mod – unnecessary] and grifters with an eye to the main chance to make hay from the taxpayer.
    
    All stemming from the redefinition of words from the corrupt UN.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:29am
  - gravedodger
    
    For how many Australian citizens, Riffer?
    My experience suggests a very few at most.
    The New Australians who receive their citizenship in a ceremony on Australia Day become some of the most sincere and committed citizens as it establishes something they fought and paid for, to become Aussies.
    Lefty controlled Councils have tried to move such ceremonies away from Australia Day, now why might that be I wonder
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:43pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    It’s only confected “controversy” courtesy of the usual juvenile marxist revolutionaries.
    
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    February 6, 2025 3:32pm
- Ghost
  
  Well, that is sad. If that is what you believe you shouldn’t feel like you need to be silenced in those topics.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:49am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    I made my points. The debate will not be advanced by me repeating my views. I have already added to the burden of the moderators. 😶
    
    So it is not “sad”. I do feel strongly about that topic. I have made that clear. I also feel strongly about other topics. For example I sincerely believe that race relations and poor economic performance collectively threaten the future of the country.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:16am
    - Ghost
      
      As long as you aren’t being silenced by a couple of bullies on this site.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:19am
      - Benedict Yu
        
        Ghost I have fairly thick skin. I was not bullied. I was not threatened with doxing or worse. e
        If I had been I never would return. I would not just change the subject.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:14pm
    - Paulus
      
      I believe that the ascendency of the noisiest left wing Maori has set New Zealand back as much as 30 years and I cannot see real future forward movement.
      
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      February 6, 2025 1:50pm
- David Garrett
  
  Bene: Congratulations on ur very sensible decision to no longer post pro vaccination comments. You were in real danger of becoming a shrill obsessive, and that would have been a great shame.
  
  IMO you are one of the best commenters here with a great deal to offer on many other topics.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:54am
  - cmm
    
    I second that!
    
    Although I often cross swords with BY, he is indeed one of the most thoughtful and interesting commenters here.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:06am
  - Tauhei Notts
    
    Benedict Yu, David Garrett and CMM are merely three of the contributors that make this the best blog in the blogosphere.
    The thought has come to me that David Farrar should be considered for the next King’s Birthday Awards as his creation of this site is one of the joys of my elderly life.
    In 2015, 2018 and 2023 I spent several weeks out of the country. This site kept me up to date with N.Z. happenings much better than any news site could possibly do.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:16am
    - lifesgood
      
      I agree but would add Maggy W to the list.
      
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      February 6, 2025 1:58pm
- Janine
  
  Happy New Zealand day.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:40am
- Ultima
  
  Scrap Matariki Day as well, it’s a meaningless public holiday.
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:49am
  - riffer
    
    It’s as meaningless as Christmas Day, but good luck getting rid of that one.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:06am
    - herb1
      
      It seems to have gone over your head riffed but there’s a vast difference between the 2 public holidays. One has been celebrated for around 1700 years by billions of people in the majority of the world’s countries. The other has only become a holiday in ones all country of a few million , in the last couple of years. Try a better comparison next time , I’m sure there’s someone who can help you
      
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      February 6, 2025 12:23pm
    - jonno1
      
      Are you seriously saying that you don’t understand the meaning of Christmas Day? And no, I have not down-ticked you.
      
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      February 6, 2025 1:39pm
    - Dave
      
      That’s just sad, Riffer. You don’t have to believe in Christianity to celebrate getting together with your family, enjoying the excitement of the youngsters opening presents, eating lots of delicious food you normally wouldn’t cook or buy, reading stupid jokes in crackers. It makes a month of Christmas carols in shopping malls almost bearable.
      
      Matariki, however…
      
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      February 6, 2025 4:50pm
- I remember when
  
  Why not change the name of Labour Day, which at least represents all working New Zealanders, especially those that the Treaty doesn’t mention.
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:23am
- Ra Henare
  
  An alternative might be to add more “”National””? Days. Chinese/Lunar New Year/TET, to reflect the growing number of Chinese/Taiwanese, SE Asian NZ citizens.
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:38pm
  - Paulus
    
    “Kung hei fat choi” is a Cantonese phrase that means “wishing you prosperity” or “congratulations and may you be prosperous”.
    It’s a common greeting during Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year.
    That is now, and is a positive movement – why cannot we share them as it is thousands of years earlier than the so called Maori, – who is. of course, a derivative of the Tribe in SE Taiwan.
    Scrap Waitangi farce and join in the Maori ancestors.
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:56pm
    - Sir Henry Morgan
      
      There is no cultural, linguistic, genetic or other connection between Chinese and the indigenous Taiwanese tribes Maori are descended from.
      
      Chinese only began to settle Taiwan after the ancestors of Maori had left. Chinese settlement in Taiwan dates to the Ming Dynasty (around 400 years ago). The ancestors of Maori left Taiwan maybe 5,000 years ago, and were already in New Zealand by the time Chinese began arriving in Taiwan.
      
      The numbers of Chinese in Taiwan were initially miniscule, only growing after the Dutch set up a colony in Southern Taiwan and encouraged Chinese farmers and laborers to immigrate.
      
      The mountainous interior and east coast of Taiwan (i.e. basically half the island) remained virtually uncharted and beyond Chinese influence until the late 19th Century. It was only after the Qing Empire ceded Taiwan to Japan that the Japanese built the infrastructure necessary to bring the entire island under their government.
      
      At least some of the aboriginal languages spoken in Taiwan (Austronesian languages, not Sinitic) are filled with Japanese loan words.
      
      The idea that Maori and Chinese share some kind of bond because the ancestors of Maori emigrated out of Taiwan is farcical.
      
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      February 6, 2025 4:06pm
- Ra Henare
  
  A sad day Bene, you provided lots of information & challenges with your staunch position on those 2 subjects.
  
  Sadly, it would appear that your posts will be replaced by others mindless drivel.
  
  For those interested in research.
  Forget google when looking for research on topics like Covid vaccines or similar.
  
  A much better database than google.
  
  https://link.springer.com
  
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  February 6, 2025 7:12pm
Bridgenag

the end of weaponized empathy
stop buttering up the buttercups

“the issue is that past a certain point, people simply stop caring about you and your endless needy demands for the world to order itself around your right not to be offended as the cornerstone and non-negotiable demand of your sense of well being and security.”

https://open.substack.com/pub/boriquagato/p/the-end-of-weaponized-empathy?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
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February 6, 2025 8:25am
Tomtoddy

A Presbyterian minister made this comment at Waitangi this morning. On the Treaty Principles bill she claimed it is “masquerading as equality for all”.

She is either incompetent in the use of the English language, which I doubt, hasn’t read the Bill or any of the commentary around it, which I also doubt, or she is grandstanding and deliberately causing confusion and trouble. The latter is the only logical explanation.

There are so few sensible responses from those opposing the Bill. PM Luxon said he was going to tell us why he opposed it and other than a mischaracterisation – saying it was trying to fix 185 years of debate with the stroke of a pen which has never been suggested – he had no arguments at all.

I am ashamed of my country and its leaders. The whole issue has been handled immaturely and unfairly. I had hoped we were better.
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February 6, 2025 8:26am
- Philview
  
  Sadly for us and for Chris the election next year will be about the economy. After the lies and misinformation coming from the media I am encountering a lot of comments that this Government is to blame for the economic mess. It will be a miracle if the country can turn a corner in the next year.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:43am
  - Don Beckett
    
    The only person speaking with restraint, calm & reason on this subject is David Seymour, and I congratulate him for his calm & directness.
    He is speaking like the leader Luxon should be.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:01am
    - riffer
      
      Sometimes I really wish this site had emoticons. The ROFL one would really be useful right now.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:07am
      - Jack5
        
        Riffer’s …I really wish this site had emoticons…
        
        🙄🙃😂😀😄
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:20am
      - Matt Long
        
        Riffer you slay me, 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:36pm
- Cassandra
  
  Methodist, not Presbyterian.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:07am
  - Inandout
    
    Cass, once know jovially as Methos and Pressbuttons.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:47am
    - kowtow
      
      Pressbuttons !
      
      There was a time they’d have nailed your tongue to a board for that in Calvinist Scotland.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:03am
    - riffer
      
      And here was me thinking Methos were P addicts.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:07am
      - Cassandra
        
        Kuare.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:00pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        That’s “meth heads”.
        
        Pretty sure “methos” are people drinking themselves to death by drinking the very lethal methylated spirits.
        
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        February 6, 2025 3:38pm
- Mark Hanley
  
  It doesn’t take much reading to discover the huge strides the National Party have made since luxons elevation to leader. I guess reading takes skill and effort. Much easier to make up criticisms.
  
  Here is a bit of balance.
  
  SInce the “very poor political nosed” Luxon took over as PM:
  -the national party was reformed and won the election,
  – inflation has been tamed
  – race has been erased from the management of public services
  – ram raids have been eliminated
  – gangs have been marshalled into a corner
  – emergency housing numbers have declined substantially
  – law and order has been restored
  – NZ business has reconnected with the world
  – a temporary resource management fix (fast track consenting) has been applied
  – roads have been fixed and new roads planned
  – the government has switched its focus to economic growth
  – we have started a conversation to rid us of the TOW rort
  – our education system has been overhauled using best practice
  – work has started on a long term infrastructure plan with an organisation structure to support the “intergovernmental” plan.
  
  Add to the list above the successful coalition management, an almost impossible task with Peter’s holding the balance of power, with the corrupt NZ media attacking you at every opportunity whilst failing to report the wins, and with Labour and (unbelieveably) ACT spin doctors influencing political blogs.
  
  Not a bad list of achievements for a PM who is “unable to read the room”.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:16am
  - Terry Dalee
    
    – race has been erased from the management of public services
    
    Um, I’m going to call bullshit on that one right there….
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:58am
  - Damocles11
    
    Most of your alleged achievements don’t stand up to close scrutiny. Lots of ‘work started’ and a series of dubious claims. Law and order has not been restored, the criminals are running amok. If the roads are all fixed then why is there still non-stop roadworks going on on many of the roads I drive? Why wouldn’t ‘economic growth’ have been a priority from Day 1? Inflation has been tamed through the steep interest OCR increase the Reserve Bank brought in which have in fact created a recession. The Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi have not been eliminated from legislation. I’m sick of hearing about things are ‘started’ but not done. This government is squandering its time in power thanks to Luxons dithering. I saw this comment on YouTube in response to Luxons recent trainwreck interview with Hosking:
    ‘Luxon’s the architypical “guy from head office” . Always “looking” , never “doing” .’
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:15am
    - Mark Hanley
      
      Domacles, Matt, Jack Rabbit, Pope, etc.
      
      Your comments make it abundantly clear you have never been involved in the herculean task of managing large scale change with a team of people in 3 different and distinct groups, with 3 different and distinct leaders / goals; handed to you by voters,
      
      If you want to see action…… read the quarterly action plan reports. It is all there in black and white!
      
      Stating results should be immediate is nonsense. One explanation for this rediculous statement is a professional or ideological need to criticize, regardless of the facts.
      
      There is another explanation but I’m much too polite to write it down.
      
      Machiavelli…..
      It should be borne in mind that there is nothing more difficult to arrange, more doubtful of success, and more dangerous to carry through than initiating changes.
      
      The innovator makes enemies of all those who prospered under the old order, and only lukewarm support is forthcoming from those who would prosper under the new. Their support is lukewarm … partly because men are generally incredulous, never really trusting new things unless they have tested them by experience.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:51am
  - waripori
    
    To which I would add getting rid of Fair Pay Agreements. Jacinda gave everyone an extra 5 days sick leave, another public holiday, jacked up the minimum wage and kept the borders shut to create a labour shortage. Fair Pay agreements would have killed small business and sent inflation to the stratosphere. The Government changed in the nick of time and if Luxon had not resurrected National after the Collins/ Bridges fiasco we would have had another three years of Robertson.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:29am
    - Mark Hanley
      
      The list of Luxon lead sucesses is much greater than the small sample we provided.
      
      A small amount of research combined with an objective mind capable of assessing the information, makes is abundantly clear Luxon’s: intellect, people management skills, proven management capability, work ethic, selflessness, and high moral standards will make him the greatest PM NZ ever had.
      
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      February 6, 2025 12:03pm
      - pdm
        
        Dream on MH.
        
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        February 6, 2025 2:51pm
      - Pope Punctilious II
        
        What evidence of Luxon’s “selflessness” and “high moral standards” can you show me?
        
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        February 6, 2025 3:15pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Pdm. The scholastic standards of your replies have remained at the highest levels.
        
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        February 6, 2025 4:36pm
      - pdm
        
        Play the ball not the man MH.
        
        Going to No Minister and having a read of some of my Posts and Submissions might change your mind too. I am pdm1946 there.
        
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        February 6, 2025 4:53pm
      - Taieri
        
        will make him the greatest PM NZ ever had
        ——–
        
        That place is already taken.
        By his immediate predecessor, Dame Jacinda Gayford nee Ardern, blessed be her Glorious name forever…
        
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        February 6, 2025 5:19pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Actually pdm, your lack of detailed analysis and robust comments lets you down again. I did not attack you i commented on the veracity of your posts.
        
        If you are capable of detailed research, objective analysis, and intellectually rigorous comments on other platforms, why don’t you apply the same standards to your lb comments?
        
        It would make the conversation challenging and rewarding for me and informative for those reading.
        
        “Dream on” is a common parlance amongst primary school children.
        
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        February 6, 2025 7:02pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Domacles, Matt, Jack Rabbit, Pope, or whichever moniker you are using…..
        
        Would you take a muti million dollar pay cut, and the ruination of a sensible work life balance, to become prime minister?
        
        Not many with Luxons level of success have made the sacrifice!
        
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        February 6, 2025 7:06pm
      - Damocles11
        
        Who is ‘we’?
        
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        February 6, 2025 9:05pm
      - Taieri
        
        Not many with Luxons level of success have made the sacrifice!
        ——–
        
        Really?
        
        John Key, Rashi Sunak, Donald Trump…
        Compared to them, Christopher Luxon comes from a very low shelf indeed.
        
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        February 6, 2025 9:34pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Taieri. You do realize you could only name 3.
        
        One of which was broke when he first ran for the presidency.
        
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        February 7, 2025 3:35am
    - pdm
      
      `To which I would add getting rid of Fair Pay Agreements.’
      
      Put that one down to ACT and Brooke van Velden in particular.
      
      National would still be making announcements about doing it.
      
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      February 6, 2025 1:12pm
  - Paulus
    
    Simply the left wing so called Media, do not agree and will continue to ferment discord to try and break the voted coaltion at any cost.
    They still want a job so they continue to cause bad news.
    Look at the mostly female highly paid still, Political aspirants.
    How their brains work is beyond me, but we have to accept recent overseas professional work that Men and Women’s brain differ -this has recently been agreed by experts in most countries – they are trying to establish what the difference actually is yet.
    Come to New Zealand and it becomes obvious very quickly.
    
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    February 6, 2025 2:03pm
- kowtow
  
  She needs to be sent to Bible Reeducation class to keep politics out of religion .
  Render unto Caesar and all that.
  
  And that applies to all our Uber Woke faith leaders , who seem to have adopted Karl Marx as their Messiah .
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:20am
  - GazzaW
    
    ‘Who will rid me of this turbulent Priest?’
    
    Henry II 1170AD.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:09am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Yes, he was talking about St. Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury – whom I claim as an ancestor. 🙂
      
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      February 6, 2025 1:11pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        What? Thomas a Beckett was a Catholic bishop, Don. No descendants, as such.
        
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        February 6, 2025 9:29pm
      - Jack5
        
        A Catholic bishop without descendants?
        
        There’s your bollocks, NMTB.
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:14pm
- Ra Henare
  
  With his
  trying to fix 185 years of debate
  
  Self Identifies as a non thinking idiot.
  
  185 years of debate didnt solve the effing problem!!!
  A united NZ.
  
  Its just another (The bill) step in the process by addressing the concerns of the voter majority by talking about it. Rather than sweeping it all under the carpet.
  
  I hear another can being kicked down the road.
  
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  February 6, 2025 7:17pm
Damocles11

Let’s have a New Zealand Day and take the power away from the activists and racial separatists. We need a referendum on this idea of a new national day and if ACT are smart they will make it another policy plank. This day actually does harm, every year our nation is mired in hate and anger because of this day, with notables attacked and abused at Waitangi every single year. Queen Elizabeth II copped it. Helen Clark wouldn’t go there. People have been assaulted and had objects thrown at them. It’s a disgrace, it can’t continue. Why are 5.5 million New Zealanders so weak and downtrodden that we put up with this horror show every year, knowing full well it will continue next year, and the next, and the next, ad infinitum? At some stage we are going to have to stand up and say that this cannot go on, we have to save New Zealand, and build the country up again for ALL the people who live here, not just an increasingly emboldened minority.
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February 6, 2025 8:28am
Rusty

Can Donald Trump sort out the treaty of Waitangi for us?
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February 6, 2025 8:29am
- kowtow
  
  He’d move us all to Stewart Island and turn the rest of the place into the world’s largest golf course .
  
  Hey , where can I train to be a caddy , the tips ‘ll be greatly !
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:06am
  - Paulus
    
    But there is a Golf Course at Waitangi !
    
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    February 6, 2025 2:04pm
    - pdm
      
      Paulus I am not too sure on mileages up there but Kauri Cliffs is not far away either or that one Rory McIlroy played at a month or two ago.
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:56pm
AgainstTheFlow

As a non-Māori New Zealander, I strongly feel and believe that David Seymour and ACT are the only party that is standing up for me, for my rights, and for a modern democratic nation.
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February 6, 2025 8:31am
- Damocles11
  
  He also wants to take us out of the farcical Paris Agreement, the pact which has us blowing both feet off to achieve nothing while China pledges to continue increasing their emissions.
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:17am
  - Hard Cheese
    
    I don’t know if China are pledging to increase emissions, but I can tell you they’re installing more renewable energy than any other country by a mile. But yes, NZ’s emissions are a rounding error. Luxon and Watts should give themselves an uppercut for throwing billions at rounding error guilt
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:24pm
    - NZer In Exile
      
      “but I can tell you they’re installing more renewable energy than any other country by a mile. ”
      
      Yes alarmists like to pretend that is so. It’s essentially inconsequential window dressing . Presumably as part of a sales pitch to sell “renewables” hardware (they make the stuff cheaply) to western gullibles. You realise they are building an new C O A L power station every week or two? They are also heavily rolling out nuclear including cutting edge SMR and Thorium reactors? Their emissions are unlikely to come down significantly until around 2060. Even if human derived Co2 were the control knob for the earth’s temp (there is no evidence that it ever was or ever will be), what we (and the rest of the west) do in “reducing emissions” will simply be massively swamped by the developing world’s emissions.
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:50pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    China is all about long term thinking. They dont have to worry about election cycles/short term thinking.
    They planned to accelerate energy in the shorter term with Coal fired power stations(The 96% efficient non polluting kind.
    UNtil they star rolling out more nuclear and renewables.
    So 2030 their targets will start reducing Co2.
    
    Of course the hystericals will bleat about the short term coal.
    China doesnt give a shit.
    They are concentrateing on more energy to drag their population out of poverty
    AND
    Reduce pollution by supplying clean energy.
    
    Like those of past generations
    Rome wasn’t built in a day, and sometimes there is pain before gain.
    
    But of course I expect downticks from the ideological hysterical anti Chinese faction here.
    
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    February 6, 2025 8:11pm
Damocles11

Luxon has written a column in the New Red Herald promising that David Seymours bill will not become law:
“It is not realistic to suggest that 185 years of debate would be settled once and for all with the stroke of a pen. My commitment to you is that the bill will not become law.”
I can’t remember a single occasion where David Seymour has stated that the bill would ‘settle 185 years of debate’. Luxon is deliberately making erroneous statements about the purpose and intent of the bill. The purpose of the bill is to clarify that the government has the right to govern all the people who live in this country, and that all the citizens of this country have the same rights and duties, and the right to their private property and to pursue happiness according to their own hearts desires. Nothing to do with ‘185 years of debate’. Luxon should be a staunch defender and promoter of the values and rights represented by Seymours bill, instead he is the ringleader of the movement to ‘kill the bill’. Luxon is the wrong person in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is set to go down in history as a truly tragic figure, someone who failed to seize the moment and set New Zealand on a united and solid foundation to face the future, and instead scattered a golden chance to four winds. Has he now sealed our fate with his weakness and stupidity?
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February 6, 2025 8:42am
- Eastlander
  
  There have not been 185 years of debate – treaty revisionism is half a century old at most, and the word ‘debate’ implies a level of good faith from revisionists that they have never shown.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:49am
  - Cassandra
    
    1975 when the non-defined Principles were legislated.
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:03pm
- kowtow
  
  Luxon seems to tie treaty settlements , which they’ve committed to ,to his opposing the principles bill .
  The two are not incompatible at all . He also fails to mention his commitment along with NZF to scrub treaty principles from nearly all legislation.
  
  The guy’s all over the place .
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:43am
  - Damocles11
    
    You’d have to say he is being ‘deliberately disingenuous’.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:18am
    - PurplePen
      
      Or just plain ignorant and uses what he thinks are cliches that everyone wants to hear.
      
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      February 6, 2025 12:34pm
- I remember when
  
  So, how far have we come in the last 185 years?
  The Treaty was written and signed with the stroke of a pen.
  Now it isn’t realistic to suggest it is even possible to do so.
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:31am
- Hard Cheese
  
  In that case my commitment to Luxon is to not vote National
  
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  February 6, 2025 12:28pm
- pdm
  
  It almost seems that Luxon does not want the right to Govern and for all New Zealanders to be equal under the law.
  
  That is a strange perspective on New Zealand and all New Zealanders from a Prime Minister.
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:16pm
- Paulus
  
  Disappointing to say “Bye Luxon” you are not what we voted for !
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:06pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360572065/truck-driver-charged-after-dangerous-passing-lane-incident-caught-dashcam
Hopefully he has already been sacked by his employer: perhaps that is something the Stuff “reporter” could have investigated ?
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February 6, 2025 8:45am
- peterwn
  
  An employer in such a situation would be unwise to comment to the media regarding the fate of the driver. The employer would appear to have grounds to dismiss the driver but would need to follow due process and pending that suspend the driver on pay. If the employer did dismiss the driver the driver might seek reinstatement (unlikely to be granted) and if for any reason the dangerous driving charge is dismissed the employer would probably be ordered to pay loss of earnings and compensation for hurty feelings etc. The employer is pretty well in a lose-lose situation here.
  Interestingly under some circumstances such as grossly excessive speeding or some repeat offending a driver can be immediately suspended for 28 days but this does not seem to apply to dangerous driving unless possibly there was previous offending.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:10am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Who would want to be an employer.
    There seem to be fewer legal responsibilities toward a spouse, or even your own child.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:37am
  - greybeard
    
    Thanks for your insight: if the charge is upheld then the employer would have a solid case for dismissal, I presume.
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:18am
- bennerg
  
  Like Air Crash investigations, you need to get the full report to be able to come to a fair decision. I note that the company also has the truck dashcam, which may present an alternative view.
  
  Living on that very stretch of road, I can comment from direct daily experience. It is an extremely busy highway, and has been under resourced for a long time. Through the local Residents and Ratepayers Association we have lobbied for many years to get NZTA to upgrade the road, especially for locals having to exit and enter the highway, often putting their own lives at risks as cars whisk by, often well above the speed limit.
  
  My view is that a new highway should have been built 10 years ago, leaving the existing road to service the residents of the area. With the Port of Tauranga (now the largest in New Zealand) playing such an important part of our economy, the priorities in getting this road upgraded is tantamount.
  
  There is a lot of frustration, with some trucks with heavy loads only able to drive at 5okm. The most frustrating experience is when another tries to overtake at 55km/hr – taking a kilometer to effect the passing manoever. Having said that, for the most the truckies are responsible and helpful.
  
  As to this situation, I’ll wait and see, but mindful that there are many stupid and idiotic car drivers who drive in a way that cause unusual reactions. I’m sure the owners of the truck, a local family business, will make a right and proper decision.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:46am
- jonno1
  
  2 questions: Why was the car in the ‘passing’ lane and, more importantly, when did it move into that lane?
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:58pm
Tomtoddy

I had reasonably high hopes for Luxon as PM. He came in with the cv claiming success as a businessman, a competent leader, pleasant, presentable, well spoken, making all the right claims. He followed a couple of quite ordinary attempts to capture the pizzazz that Key carried.

However, as the months have gone on those hopes have been whittled away. I kept hoping he would realise some of his mistakes and correct them. That he would see where he needed to change tack and retake the high ground.

It is now apparent that he has a very poor political nose. He just seems unable to read the wind. All other skills come to nought if you have limited political nous.

Going to Akaroa is crap judgement. He might have got away with it other years but shrewdness should have told him to be at Waitangi and outdo Seymour and be seen as strong, decisive and cool. Right now he has given the media and the opposition a huge card to play – coward.

He has called the changes to GHG emissions targets very badly. How could National ever take a position harsher than Ardern and the Greens? It is wrong scientifically and even more wrong politically. He has angered the rural rump of National when he didn’t need to. Just bad calling.

Its no wonder there is muttering in his ranks. Talk of him being arrogant and out of touch are just making his situation worse. Is it redeemable? I am beginning to doubt he has what it takes. Sad, really.
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February 6, 2025 8:45am
- Chuck Bird
  
  I agree with most of what you say but not about him going to Waitangi.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:58am
  - Countrygirl
    
    I wonder if Luxon is playing the long game. He let Seymour go to Waitangi, take the heat, get the idea in people’s heads. Then in a year or two time bring it up again. If Luxon had gone to Waitangi can’t you just imagine the media getting excited about the Coalition imploding.
    
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    February 6, 2025 4:42pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      He does NOT have a year or two.
      Election next year. So anything he does from here on in will be pre-election fodder.
      
      At the moment, polls suggest he will lead a one time government.
      
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      February 6, 2025 8:26pm
- Allan
  
  You are not alone with your thoughts. My feelings exactly and with the way that he is running the Caucus I dont think that he has any idea what democracy is. It would appear that he is running it like a CEO of a Company with a my way or the highway attitude and no room for dissenting views. He most definitely is not listening to a large number of members rapidly becoming ex members of the National Party.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:59am
  - Paulus
    
    Following Dame Ardern we are not used to having a Coaltion Government, and its leader is doing what any good CEO is doing, by appointing some very good Ministers, and letting them get on with it, and also reporting same, wheras Ardern was everything to everybody every day, and that is why the media loved her, as she often leaked information to them as she had their personal phone numbers, remember !
    
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    February 6, 2025 2:12pm
    - pdm
      
      Is he letting Ministers get on with it?
      
      No sooner had Luxon told Mike Hosking he was helping Shane Reti with Health than Reti was replaced.
      
      I ask was Luxons help the real problem?
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:00pm
- David Garrett
  
  Tom: I agree with most of what u say – except what I regard as Luxon’s very sensible not to go to Waitangi to be shouted at and abused.
  What would going to Waitangi achieve – other than TV footage of things being thrown at him and being yelled at? Any speech he tried to make would be drowned out.
  
  Helen Clark never went to Waitangi for years, but rather spent the day at various other marae around the country. And much as I dislike the woman and her social engineering, noone ever called her a coward.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:02am
  - cmm
    
    DG: Yup, why go to Waitangi?
    It has devolved into an occasion to abuse whitey and increase Maori separatism. This year with a side order of Palestinian protesting.
    
    If you go then you are only enabling, and feeding, continued bad behaviour. This fuels the grievance industry and is one of the things that stands in the way of nation building.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:11am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      If you go then you are only enabling, and feeding, continued bad behaviour.
      
      I don’t go, but my taxes still support the farce.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:20am
    - kowtow
      
      ‘nation building.’
      
      50 odd years of treaty grievance industry and now forced into almost literally every aspect of life , including law via legislation and court decisions ( now they want maori law ) etc
      
      with mass immigration from countries /cultures such as China ,India and the Pacific ,
      
      that boat has sailed.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:27am
    - Ra Henare
      
      Of course actually going to Waitangi for the celebrations(I have been twice)
      
      IS WAY WAY WAY different to the shit show put on by Radicals and their MSM enablers.
      
      This Shit show by the way takes place in isolation from the main crowds(having a good time) and limited in time (cant have lengthy stuff for MSM reporters to digest)
      
      Reading comments here, supports my view that many KBers get their information from MSM.
      
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      February 6, 2025 8:31pm
  - Tomtoddy
    
    While I see your point, DG about abuse, it seems that most activities this year were well managed and relatively free of trouble. My point is why give Kiwis and the media particularly the chance to add more, and now, a new criticism – “he ran in the face of fire”.
    
    Luxon needs to regain control of the narrative and he wont do it from Akaroa.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:55am
    - David Garrett
      
      Tom: I’ll say it again: Clark never went to Waitangi after have once been abused there, and she managed to stay in power for nine long years.
      
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      February 6, 2025 10:01am
      - G the giant from Dunedin
        
        Key never went after being abused, English did not go the year he was pm, Cindy went and cooked the men some eggs
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:56am
    - cmm
      
      “Luxon needs to regain control of the narrative and he wont do it from Akaroa.”
      
      He certainly won’t regain it by going to Waitangi and being abused.
      
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      February 6, 2025 1:20pm
  - Paulus
    
    But that is what the media want, preferably more physically and abusively, so they can report it and get paid.
    If I was the current Prime Minister I would, like Helen Clark, not go to Waitangi for some years.
    As it appears the abuse will expand, it will be many years before returning –
    Maoridom is not only Waitangi.
    
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    February 6, 2025 2:18pm
- In Vino Veritas
  
  Tom, I reckon Luxon did exactly the right thing. In fact, none of the coalition MP’s should have gone to Waitangi. Just leave the radical activists and nutters to yell at the sun and moon. And each other.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:05am
  - septic skeptic
    
    It’s well and truly time to scrap this travesty of a national day.
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:10am
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  From day one I said Luxon may be a good manager, but he is not a leader.
  Just Ardern with a blue tie.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:11am
  - Mark Hanley
    
    OH Steve…. not again!
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:21am
  - David Garrett
    
    “Ardern with a blue tie”…I like that! I would perhaps modify that description slightly and say a pale blue tie.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:25am
    - Benedict Yu
      
      Despite my disappointment with him, I would not equate him with Jacinda. History will remember her as a PM who just about wrecked the nation. History will remember Luxon as the PM who failed to take the opportunity to place the country firmly on the road to recovery.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:33am
      - Eastlander
        
        An appropriate historical parallel would be President James Buchanan, who also tried to defuse violent separatism through appeasement and also failed utterly.
        
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        February 6, 2025 9:55am
      - kowtow
        
        “History”.
        
        There’s no such thing . These days it’s “histories” .
        
        Her tribe will always love her and the rational tribe won’t .
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:08am
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        Luxon is not finished with NZ yet.
        He is an activist.
        
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        February 6, 2025 3:21pm
    - pdm
      
      Have a look at my post over at No Minister for Luxon’s new nickname.
      
      mods removed it here.
      
      Sorry no link because it includes the nickname which I actually thought was perfect and not my idea. The post gives the background.
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:04pm
      - Steve Otto N Shore
        
        That nickname has been used many times on GD in the last few days.
        Did Luxon make a complaint?
        
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        February 6, 2025 3:25pm
- pdm
  
  `Its no wonder there is muttering in his ranks.’
  
  Is that true?
  
  Tell us more TT!!!
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:16am
  - bennerg
    
    I believe the word is out for all MP’s to get out there and “praise him, praise him, praise the everlasting …PM”. Saw this in action just recently.
    
    Steve made a good point, he is a competent manager, but defintely NOT a good leader.
    
    I asked my AI best friend (Monsieur Grok) what are the top ten attributes of a good leader? My comments in italics
    
    Visionary Thinking
    A good leader has a clear vision for the future and can articulate it to inspire others. They set long-term goals and provide direction, ensuring everyone understands the bigger picture. In the econmy yes, but as regards social issues, he is in hiding, or denial.
    
    Emotional Intelligence
    Leaders with high emotional intelligence are aware of their own emotions and those of others. They demonstrate empathy, manage conflicts effectively, and build strong interpersonal relationships.I sense a very great lack here, especially for the diversity of people in this country. He appears to not be naturally comfortable around people. He is well spoken, but it is his mind speaking, not his heart. The words are precise and intellectual, not heartfelt.
    
    Integrity
    Honesty and ethical behavior are essential. A good leader acts with integrity, earning trust and respect by aligning their actions with their values and being transparent in decision-making.I believe he is honest in daily matters, but in terms of promises made, promises are not being kept. Especially for the standard National Party supporters. It’s like in a personal relationship, they say the one you love most can be abused the most because they will never leave you.
    
    Effective Communication
    Clear and open communication is critical. A good leader listens actively, conveys ideas effectively, and ensures that team members feel heard and understood.The communications may be clear from a PR perspective, but not for the average person. Compare to Trump – you know what he means and does. Some may not like it, but they know what he is about, and he is not embarrassed to say. Luxon appears to want to be loved by everyone, is careful about what he ways, and is ending up being loved by none.
    
    Decisiveness
    Leaders must make informed decisions, often under pressure. A good leader evaluates options, takes responsibility for their choices, and stands by their decisions while remaining open to feedback.Can’t fault him in regards to shuffling his Cabinet, putting better people like Simeon Brown ahead of those not performing. But again on social issues he is a prevaricator.
    
    Adaptability
    In a rapidly changing world, a good leader is flexible and open to new ideas. They adapt to challenges, embrace innovation, and guide their team through uncertainty.He has a very mainstream set of attitudes, and does not have ears for those with alternative views. Makes me think he is a WEF wonk sadly. (Arden #2) There to carry out a prescribed agenda rather than represent what the people of New Zealand want.
    
    Empowerment
    A great leader empowers others by delegating responsibilities, encouraging growth, and fostering a culture of trust and autonomy. They invest in their team’s development and celebrate their successes.I suspect that his team are tightly controlled. A few have his trust, but for the most, I do not see the freedom in the way they deal with issues.
    
    Resilience
    Leadership often involves setbacks. A good leader remains resilient, staying focused and motivating their team even in the face of adversity.There’s a lot going down right now, and he just does not front foot it in a way that makes us feel better. I made a comment recently about his posting photos of him and his wife in a luxurous setting whilst most New Zealander’s are having a hard time right now.
    
    Accountability
    A good leader takes responsibility for their actions and holds themselves and others accountable. They acknowledge mistakes, learn from them, and work to improve.Too early to tell here, but will be watching.
    
    Inspirational Motivation
    Leaders inspire others through their passion, enthusiasm, and commitment. They lead by example, fostering a positive and motivated team environment that encourages everyone to perform at their best.I guess this is his worst attribute. It’s hard to get motivated by the clinical, mono tone of his personality. For me a good leader has to get to your heart, and even if times are tough, give you hope. Right now that is the single biggest deficiency I see. Our racial relations are at an all time low, with radicals out there speaking (and doing) the worst without reproach. This emboldens them further.
    
    My final comment.
    I get concerned when everything gets finely packaged and delivered. This is the Luxon way. But I am seeing rubbish, and smelling a stench in the way that our society is going downhill. So I am suspicious, very suspicious of his ability or motivations. Which I cannot tell yet.
    
    I cannot see a past PM who I would want here right now. The times demand someone more brash (no pun intended) and forthright, to put radicals in their place, and establish a rational, common sense order. The US has Trump, Argentina has Milei, and there aare a few others. The UK is right in the dump right now, and I see the Keir period similar to the Biden presidency – a mess – and that will lead to a massive swing to the right, and either Lowe or Farage taking the helm, with Trump like reforms.
    
    What for us here in New Zealand? Under Luxon a forgettable term of mediocrity. He will try to fix the economy, but we will end up wearing a darned garment, not a new and wonderful apparel.
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:30am
    - Paulus
      
      Long Bollocks !
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:19pm
      - Mark Hanley
        
        Paulus. I’m about to go look at a glacier so i was mulling a quick reply to Bennergs elongated, non referenced, non exampled, opinion / drivel.
        
        Your succinct comment does the job nicely.
        
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        February 7, 2025 7:49am
- peterwn
  
  An awful lot of armchair critics like to pontificate on what Chris Luxon should or should not do as PM. No one is really putting themselves in his shoes and facing the realities of being PM. Also I am quite sure that if Chris considers that any of his MP’s can do a better job of being PM and significantly more likely to win the next election then Chris would yield to that MP at the appropriate time. In any event Chris would be most concerned that his party and caucus have a succession plan in place. He would not want to be a kamikaze pilot going into the next election.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:18am
  - pdm
    
    `In any event Chris would be most concerned that his party and caucus have a succession plan in place.’
    
    That would appear to be Nicola Willis.
    
    I think we need a clean break so my choice is Chris Penk.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:22am
    - Steve Otto N Shore
      
      Simeon Brown fits for me. He as a smart cookie, clever.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:28am
      - imalwaysright
        
        Agree. Simeon would be good. Willis would be a backward step.
        
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        February 6, 2025 9:43am
      - bennerg
        
        Simeon is an effective general, and I would not want to remove him from doing a good job at his level.
        
        A true leader however requires different qualities (see my post elsewhere here today) and I’m really not sure that National have, or would allow someone to do that. I believe the their control is from behind the scenes.
        
        Trump came from outside the political sphere, and did what he did by taking over the old Republican party, and bringing in people based on merit – whether they be Democrat, Republican, or Independent.
        
        So how could this be done in New Zealand? Different system, but the need is the same.
        
        Who do we have in New Zealand that could do for us what Trump is doing for the USA?
        
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        February 6, 2025 11:48am
    - peterwn
      
      A political party’s succession plan would always be fluid. The second ranked MP would not be set in stone as the next leader. For example Chris could decide at some point that while Nicola is an excellent Finance Minister, there may be a better choice for a future leader and hence promote that MP to deputy leader. The talent is there and Chris would be keen to develop it. Chris could well do a more wide ranging review of Cabinet and read various Ministers and MP’s their horoscopes (a Royal Navy expression for when someone is told they have no future in the Navy).
      It is said that Helen Clark dealt with those seen as a threat to her leadership thus denuding her caucus of talent. Chris would be the opposite.
      By the way, the National Party is offering its National101 ‘course’ again for those toying with the idea of being a National candidate and even those who are just interested in politics.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:47am
      - PurplePen
        
        “It is said that Helen Clark dealt with those seen as a threat to her leadership thus denuding her caucus of talent. ”
        
        And hence they spent 9 years in the wilderness. Any good leader would have ensured successful succession. Clark wasn’t this.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:41pm
      - pdm
        
        pw one would hope Christopher Luxon is the opoosite to Clark re succession planning.
        
        Can we be sure though?
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:21pm
  - Hugh Jarse
    
    I think Luxon would need a Cabinet twice the size of his current one to do all that is required to repair the damage done by Labour within this three-year term. The damage Labour did to this country goes across just about every aspect of the economy, governance, infrastructure and our social fabric.
    
    Changing leader before the next election would sink the coalition and open the door for the three left wing coalition to get back in and go back to interfering with our social fabric while the economy goes to hell on a handcart. I thinks it’s likely any Nat leader is going to take the same approach as Luxon, to try and keep the support of the centre and make sure they get another term or two. The left wing need to be kept away from the Treasury benches for as long as possible. Changing Luxon out will give you exactly what you don’t want.
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:07am
    - peterwn
      
      Exactly. Chris needs to appeal to the sort of person seen on the Clapham (insert name of a middle of the road suburb) omnibus. That sort of person generally never comments on Kiwiblog or the Standard.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:51am
  - MCōs
    
    An awful lot of armchair critics have always liked to pontificate on what the current leader should be doing
    Not just in NZ, but in any country where free speech is allowed . . . . .
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:27pm
- Benedict Yu
  
  On the emissions targets, we cannot meet the 2030 obligations. The Minister had said as much. That will require defaulting or buying carbon credits internationally at great cost. Certainly billions. Probably North of 10 billion dollars.
  
  Then they set yet higher targets for 2035. 🙁🤡
  
  The only reason they get away with it is because few folk and apparantly no journalists can understand the issues. They can understand a cost increase for ferries or a hospital. Billions for carbon credits is just too esoteric.
  
  The only politician who is honest is Seymour. However the response is that he is a “climate denier”. As well as racist.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:28am
  - cmm
    
    I’ve said this before and I will no doubt say this again.
    
    The politicians love virtue signalling. One of the ways to do so is to sign up for obligations in the future that they know they will not be around to have to deal with.
    
    It is a wonderful way of making it look like you’re taking things seriously while actually doing nothing.
    
    Luxon and Willis are both greenies. Their social circle are all on the climate train and they want to fit in and be seen to be on the “right” side of history etc.
    
    Both of them know that 2035 is not their problem. They will be long gone by then.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:51am
    - peterwn
      
      “Both of them know that 2035 is not their problem. They will be long gone by then.”
      Wrong. Both would want to see NZ be a successful prosperous nation in the future and are working towards that.
      While they may be long gone as MP’s by then, they will still be prominent in society. I predict Nicola will have a successful ‘career’ after Parliament and would not make the bumbling mistakes that the likes of Jenny Shipley and Doug Graham made.
      
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      February 6, 2025 12:01pm
      - cmm
        
        Oh dear me,
        
        Jenny Shipley was seen as a tough, ruthless politician in her time who shanked Bolger.
        
        Now she’s this wokester.
        
        Nicola Willis has already declared herself to be “green blue” and will likely soften with age as most of these National women seem to do (Shipley, Amy Adams,…) and distance themselves from politics.
        
        I severely doubt Willis will be around in 10 years time. If she is, I expect that her “green blue” will take National even further in the green direction.
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:28pm
      - Jack5
        
        CMM’s Jenny Shipley was seen as a tough, ruthless politician in her time …
        
        That was before she was a director in Mainzeal:
        
        https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/business/496560/mainzeal-directors-lose-appeal-ordered-to-pay-nearly-40m-in-damages
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:38pm
      - peterwn
        
        cmm – if she was that tough and ruthless, she would not (as a Mainzeal director) allowed that Harvard MBA guy plunder the company for his personal benefit. Even if she could not stop him she should have resigned.
        
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        February 6, 2025 1:46pm
  - cmm
    
    “They can understand a cost increase for ferries or a hospital. Billions for carbon credits is just too esoteric.”
    
    Do they really understand? I don’t think so.
    
    For most people, a billion is an incomprehensible number.
    
    Most people understand what a million is. A million is a median house in Auckland.
    
    Say a million and most people have an emotional reaction to that in line with the value of a house, and that is considered a very big number.
    
    But a billion is 1000x that. People do not have a 1000x reaction to a billion as they do to a million. It is just another work with “illion” in it, sounds the same, and the emotional reaction is around the same and certainly not even 10x that of a million.
    
    Say ” Dunedin hospital costs $3 billion” and the emotion is that that is a bit more than the cost of 3 houses – not 3000 houses. (Of course it will blow out, but that’s a different issue).
    
    If you lay a million $1 coins face down, side by side on a rugby field it would cover approximately the area between the half-way line and the 10 metre line.
    
    A billion $1 coins side by side would cover around 70km of a standard one-lane-each-way NZ road.
    
    They are radically different numbers and people just do not comprehend.
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:14am
    - Paulus
      
      Easy appoint one of the Major European Ferry Companies.
      Cor Blimey, the Unions !
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:23pm
  - Countrygirl
    
    Don’t we have some carbon credits we can’t sell?Maybe we can buy them off ourselves. No one else wants them, we might even get them cheap.
    
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    February 6, 2025 5:11pm
- Inandout
  
  Tom, with reference to Luxon claiming to have been a ‘businessman’ I can find no reference to him actually owning a business. Sure he worked his way up in Unilever as an employee followed by CEO jobs, but not actually juggling daily income figures like most business owners do. I contend unless one actually experiences the ups and downs and sheer sacrifices of running a business they should not be running a country. We claim to be a capitalist country yet seem often to be overseen by academics and unionists.
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:01am
  - Paulus
    
    We are not a Capitalist Country – I wish we were – we are a low waged South Pacific Country, with many immigrants over many hundreds of year from within thr South Pacific sadly many poorly educated.
    Manual workers are, but the many, which does not help.
    
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    February 6, 2025 2:26pm
    - Countrygirl
      
      NZ is running 3rd highest minimum wage in the world, right behind Australia and Luxembourg. I know we feel poor but I get sick of always this business of low wages.
      
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      February 6, 2025 5:15pm
  - peterwn
    
    A ‘businessman’ can be a senior executive in a business as well as referring to a business owner. Chris Luxon was most certainly a businessman with Unilever and Air NZ.
    
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    February 6, 2025 5:22pm
- surfing
  
  Chris Luxon is a useless PM. He tinkers then claims success, without achieving success.
  
  The watered down 3-strikes for example.
  
  This is his latest failure…
  https://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/360145-taurangas-m–ori-ward-race-gets-under-way.html
  
  Tauranga are holding a byelection for a new Maori Ward.
  
  Yet, this directly defies the Chris Luxon government…
  
  https://www.dia.govt.nz/maori-wards
  
  In theory Tauranga is supposed to hold a referendum on the wards this year, but, due to no elections in Tauranga this year it is put off until 2028.
  
  So, what has Chris Luxon done about it? SWEET FA! He’s useless.
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:05am
  - Jack5
    
    Surfing’s …Chris Luxon is a useless PM. …
    
    What’s the alternative? Labour-Maori Party-Greens would be an infinitely worse Government.
    
    Proportional representation systems like MMP, with their creation of coalitions, need a different way of reaching decisions. This is “best worst method” (BWM) also known as “least worst” or “least bad”.
    
    Ideally for MMP, potential coalitions would be sorted out before elections, so that coalition partners did not kneecap each other in electorates by so dividing the vote non-coalition partners win seats.
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:00pm
    - surfing
      
      Conservative voters are very disappointed by Luxon. That’s my read.
      
      National should have fixed immigration, but it is a mess. The Nats whack on new visitor taxes and ponder why people aren’t visiting! Visas requirements are a huge issue too. Digital Nomads? Couldn’t that have been done on day 1?
      
      But , one must not blame Luxon! MMP is the issue, I say sarcastically! National/Luxon are the handbrake, not the other parties. eg, National sabotaged the treaty principles bill, of which 99% of the country have not read or understand.
      
      Closer to home, why are both roads out of Tauranga to Auckland under constant major roadworks? They fix 200m of road every 6 weeks, then move to the next 200m. It will take 20 years to finish at this rate. Public infrastructure works are a sick joke.
      
      It might take National being shown the door for them to reform . 3 years of bad medicine could be worth it?
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:51pm
      - peterwn
        
        There would be many more ‘middle of the road’ voters than ‘conservative’ voters. What we have here is an ‘echo chamber’ of ‘conservative’ voters who just think and act within their group. That sort of attitude would just hand the left wing an election victory on a plate.
        
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        February 6, 2025 5:26pm
  - Steve Todd
    
    Oh, surfing, you jumped in without reading the DIA link you gave us!
    
    Go to page 5 of this document, https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/maori-wards/$file/Fact-sheet-Local-Government-(Electoral-Legislation-and-M%C4%81ori-Wards-and-M%C4%81ori-Constituencies)-Amendment-Act.pdf.
    
    Excerpt—
    
    Tauranga City Council
    
    The changes in the Act have no effect on Tauranga City Council’s recent general election in July 2024. Under the Act, Tauranga City Council has until 30 November 2026 to make the decision on whether to resolve to disestablish its Māori ward (with effect from 2028) or to hold a binding poll before the 2028 local elections.
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:49pm
    - surfing
      
      I did know this. By 2028 Luxon could be shown the door and Labour will reinstate Maori Wards.
      
      Tauranga should be having a referendum this year…not holding elections for Maori Wards!
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:22pm
      - Steve Todd
        
        surfing, as I said to Paulus on 29 June last year, here, https://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2024/06/christchurch_leaves_lgnz.html/comment-page-1#comment-3582062, “if the Tauranga City Council does not, by 30 November 2026, resolve to disestablish its Māori Ward, then it ‘must, by 28 March 2027, hold a poll on the question whether the district should be divided into 1 or more Māori wards.’ The outcome of such poll would apply in respect of the 2028 and 2031 local elections.”
        
        “See https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2024/0046/latest/LMS962428.html, clauses 46 and 48(2), in particular.”
        
        Therefore, there is simply no need for the Tauranga City Council to hold a Māori ward poll this year. In the unlikely event that there is a change of government in October/November next year, the newly elected Labour-led government will not be concerned, in late-2026/early-2027, with amending/repealing the Māori Wards and Constituencies Act, just for Tauranga.
        
        surfing. Relax. Let the already legislated-for process play out.
        
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        February 6, 2025 3:31pm
      - surfing
        
        @Steve Todd — yet, council are spending 55,000 to hold new Maori ward elections! That’s not great.
        
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        February 6, 2025 4:05pm
      - Steve Todd
        
        @surfing @ 4:05PM
        
        That’s not great.
        
        Maybe not, but what are you saying? That the vacancy should not be filled, even though the next elections in Tauranga are not until 14 October 2028?
        
        Surely you must agree that that is ridiculous.
        
        Check out section 117(1) of the Local Electoral Act 2001, here: https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2001/0035/latest/DLM94773.html.
        
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        February 6, 2025 4:57pm
  - Paulus
    
    Tauranga’s new one time solo rowing Mayor is the closest to sitting on the fence we have ever had.
    He is very pro not making decision especially about Maori representstion.
    But of course he is only one vote, and the Council Senior staff, who are very pro Maori, continue to do whatever they want – remember staff are answerable only to the CEO, and no Mayor or Councillors.
    
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    February 6, 2025 2:31pm
- plc
  
  Why does it seem as though Trump has done more in two weeks than Luxton has achieved in 15 months?
  
  Two years ago I dubbed Luxon “Chris from Marketing” – raising the ire of his fanboi from Dunedin. Nothing in the interim has dissuaded me from that view.
  
  Luxon’s sole reason for bring PM seems to be so that he can add it to his CV…..while the National Party have resorted to type. Their sole purpose is to be “in power”. It appears to me that they are not concerned with what they do when they are there.
  
  It’s a meme but really the National Party is no more than “Labour with better managers”. The shift to the left is stalled but embedded rather than reversed.
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:25am
- PurplePen
  
  “He came in with the cv claiming success as a businessman, a competent leader, pleasant, presentable, well spoken, making all the right claims.”
  
  And that’s all he still has and that’s all he’ll leave with.
  
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  February 6, 2025 12:36pm
riffer

Those who commented in the last few days about the ethnicity of the Swedish shooter would do well to check their bias today.
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February 6, 2025 8:48am
- CJames
  
  Yes – I am surprised the gun control lobby aren’t all over this and screaming about right wing nutters being the main terrorism threat. Or are they still too stunned coping with DJT?
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:57am
- Cassandra
  
  While it has all the hallmarks of terrorism it seems actually to be a case of severe mental illness. One report said the shooter had served in the Swiss army. Tragic.
  
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  February 6, 2025 8:59am
- David Garrett
  
  Riffer: Yes, my bet was wrong. But assuming the shooter was an Islamist had nothing to do with bias, but simple probability. Even tho maths is not my thing, I understand that concept very well.
  
  Here’s one for you to ponder: when an infant in this country gets bashed to death, what is that poor child’s most likely ethnicity? You very well know the answer.
  
  Sometimes – but sadly very rarely – the assumption will be wrong.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:07am
  - Observer of Life
    
    DG: Apparently another poor wee mite was murdered by a family member over this past week. I don’t read/listen to the MSM, so I’m not sure if it has been reported, but I’ve been told it has been hushed up. So bloody sad.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:30am
    - Ghost
      
      There are two cases in the news, one from a while ago a dead child taken in the back of the car to police. An unexplained death in papaptoeoe, no report on that being a child.
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:48am
      - Scooter
        
        I posted late the first night it was reported, nothing about whether it was a male or female etc, just unexplained. Very suspicious, they would know at least the sex and approximate age. Are the media covering up to protect a certain part of society if it is a baby?
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:26am
      - Ghost
        
        Nothing suspicious about it. The police haven’t covered up previous baby homicides. Perhaps wait for facts to come out. Including on details on the person who died instead of making them up beforehand. An unexplained death is just that. They will now be waiting on the autopsy.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:40am
      - Observer of Life
        
        Scooter: It was at Starship.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:57pm
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      Rubbish, they stated a baby was found dead in a car and the baby had been smothered, how the he can they say anything else.
      
      Fine that you don’t watch MSM but don’t post you have been told this has been hushed up
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:05am
  - cmm
    
    DG: “Yes, my bet was wrong.”
    
    No, your bet was right. Just because it did not win this time does not mean it was bad bet.
    
    A bet should be placed on the horse with the best odds of a pay out based on the information available at the time of making the bet.
    
    The right bet will not always pay out, but it will pay out more often over time.
    
    A bad bet might occasionally pay out, but that does not make it a good bet. It is still a bad bet.
    
    With the information available to us, far too much of the gun violence in Sweden is committed by Muslim gang members who have recently immigrated or who are first generation mis-fits. Although accounting for less than 10% of the population they account for somewhere around 60% of the gun violence.
    
    So betting against those stats would be a bad bet, not a good bet.
    
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    February 6, 2025 9:43am
    - David Garrett
      
      cmm: But remember as a former bookmaker, I was offering those who chose to bet with me odds of 5;1 on the shooter not being an Islamist! So I would have had to pay out $50 to anyone who bet me $10…a good bet for the punter, a bad bet for me!
      
      But I am just playing; I get your point.
      
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      February 6, 2025 10:10am
      - cmm
        
        Yup, 5:1 was pushing it. I would have thought 3:1 was about the right and would have still put you at an advantage.
        
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        February 6, 2025 10:20am
      - Matt Long
        
        I’m not that familiar with betting, but I would say you must offer attractive odds or no one will take a bet.
        So your odds have to be attractive enough to attract punters, the odds have to favour you long term, and you can only cover bets up to a position size that will maximis3 returns without drawing your account down too far.
        
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        February 6, 2025 2:45pm
  - riffer
    
    Thanks for acknowledging you got it wrong David. I’m no expert on the reasons why kids get bashed to death (thank goodness), but I’d wager it has a bit to do with the circumstances the offenders find themselves in – often multigenerational unemployment, poor education, and the frustration and stress that arises from their inability to function in today’s society.
    As to how to fix that, I’m buggered if I know. Both the left and the right have failed to do so.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:16am
    - David Garrett
      
      riffer: Well, we have at least one thing in common Sir/Madam – I am “buggered if I know” how to stop little Maori kids being bashed to death either.
      
      I note you suggest multi-generational unemployment as one possible cause. As to that ponder this: in the 1930’s, in the depth of the depression, not only did no little kids get bashed to death, but 1932 saw both the worst of the depression and the lowest level of violent crime per 100,000 of population in the 20th century.
      
      Conversely, at the end of the Clark years we had what is internationally recognised as full employment, i.e. an unemployment rate under 3%. If the “poverty causes crime” theory was right, violence – against both adults and children – continued to increase.
      
      In other words, the supposed connection between unemployment/poverty and violent crime is complete bullshit; the two are entirely unrelated.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:46am
      - David Garrett
        
        SHIT: some words missing there. What I meant to say was if the “poverty causes crime” theory was right, crime – including violent crime – ought to have decreased at the tail end of the Clark years, during a period of full employment. That never happened: crime just kept on increasing regardless.
        
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        February 6, 2025 12:30pm
      - kowtow
        
        DG
        Shop theft.
        
        While not violent crime , I see in the UK Daily Telegraph Feb 4 th an article , based on an industry survey , stating that 37% of people have admitted purposefully failing to scan at least one item at self service check outs.
        People aged 35 and under among the most likely to .
        
        There’s even a name for it ;the banana trick , I had to look that up ;
        
        From google
        ‘The banana trick is surprisingly simple. A shopper takes an expensive item, often meat or electronics, and rings it up as bananas or another cheap produce item at the self-checkout. Why bananas? They’re typically one of the least expensive items in a grocery store, often priced under $1 per pound.’
        
        The figures relating to shop theft there are astounding and it has all the hall marks of a social epidemic causing it ( Broken Windows and all that) .
        
        Just thought you might find thatinteresting.
        Nothing at all to do with poverty/deprivation.
        
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        February 6, 2025 2:11pm
      - Matt Long
        
        There’s strong correlation, I’m led to believe, between children living with their biological mother and father and not getting bashed.
        When leaders like Tariana decided reproduction was more important than nurture, Elea jacta est.
        I would start by ensuring stable two parent homes get government support, rather than paying people to leave.
        
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        February 6, 2025 2:51pm
    - artemisia
      
      Yesterday I had occasion to look up Tenancy Tribunal decisions relating to a specific tenancy termination situation. Applications made by landlords, including Kainga Ora.
      
      Nearly 55% of tenants in my medium size search list had Maori names. Not conclusive of course. Noting that these were applications to terminate the tenancy, so not trivial, and tenants named had lost, or the adjudicator decided name publication was in the public interest.
      
      These situations don’t appear overnight, so if tenants were aware, why would they jeopardise current and future housing? Especially cheap KO housing, and many approaches from KO. Any thoughts Riffer?
      
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      February 6, 2025 12:44pm
    - kiwikidsnz
      
      “I’m no expert on the reasons why kids get bashed to death (thank goodness), but I’d wager it has a bit to do with the circumstances the offenders find themselves in…”
      
      Seriously? That’s your reason.
      
      Consider the psychologically unacceptable & politically unfashionable possibility that those people are evil.
      
      As for “how to fix that”: the starting point should be stopping the multigenerational state dependency at source – no welfare benefits without birth control (IUD & vasectomy).
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:28pm
- cmm
  
  Statistical facts are not bias.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:12am
  - David Garrett
    
    Damocles: Firstly, any speculation about Seymour’s sexuality has gone totally unnoticed by me; secondly though, I don’t quite know how any such speculation can be a “disgraceful smear” in an age when homosexuality is seen as just wonderful, as are numerous other orientations.
    
    Paedophilia is still seen as odious – at least by most, and for now – but otherwise it is “anything goes” and has been for some time.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:16am
  - Paulus
    
    But Maori are supposed to be only 16% of the population but have the highest rate of so many things, and one sticks out, albeit like many others, like the need for housing and are getting huge money for priority.
    
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    February 6, 2025 2:34pm
- cmm
  
  15 years ago Swedish gun death rates were about the same as NZ. Both have risen due to an increases in gang crime, but the rate of increase is far higher in Sweden.
  
  Sweden now has approx 3x the gun death rate of NZ. The vast majority of that increase is due to Muslim gang activity.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:33am
  - kowtow
    
    Not to mention the liberal use of hand grenades.
    
    I see gunmen exchanged fire at a Brussels train station last night , looked like serious semi/automatic firearms .
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:49am
Damocles11

Food for thought on a national holiday to replace the horrific abomination known as ‘Waitangi Day’.

‘ If judged by the Montevideo Convention criteria, New Zealand did not achieve full de jure statehood until 1947. In this sense, 25 November 1947 can be said to mark the date of New Zealand’s legal independence.’
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February 6, 2025 8:50am
- MCōs
  
  It was also the day before my father’s 29th birthday
  Double celebration!
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:46pm
slightlyrighty

Te Pati Maori calls for a Te Tiriti Commissioner should be a great campaign point for the Nats.
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February 6, 2025 8:54am
- septic skeptic
  
  Luxon will probably come out in support of the idea.
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:18am
  - Ronin
    
    Bingo. Everything’s he see in it, be likes.
    
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    February 6, 2025 6:58pm
- kowtow
  
  At the moment the nat camp seems to consider standing up for democracy and equality as being ‘divisive’ , so no they’ll still be running for the hills or covering their heads with a blanket .
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:51am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  They have made it an election bottom line, good luck trying to win with that bullshit
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:08am
Chuck Bird

Congratulations David

David Seymour proposes to partner Alexandra Vincent Martelli

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/society-insider-david-seymours-romantic-beach-proposal-blair-tuke-supports-partner-in-big-role-meet-the-kiwi-running-us-billionaires-empire/VV5X7JSYAZHJHIQXEBME24NMTI/
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February 6, 2025 8:55am
- Damocles11
  
  The poor guy has had to cop so much innuendo around his sexuality and other disgraceful smears coming from leftists and others who fear him and his party and so seek to destroy him through muck raking and lies.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:24am
  - David Garrett
    
    Damocles: Firstly, any speculation about Seymour’s sexuality has gone totally unnoticed by me; secondly though, I don’t quite know how any such speculation can be a “disgraceful smear” in an age when homosexuality is seen as just wonderful, as are numerous other orientations.
    
    Paedophilia is still seen as odious – at least by most, and for now – but otherwise it is “anything goes” and has been for some time.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:03am
    - Damocles11
      
      Smears around snapchatting – he was snapchatted and the extent of his interaction was to wish the people concerned a good night and he advised them to act responsibly.
      Then there is the ‘protected a pedophile’ smear. The fact is the offences were committed two decades before the perpetrator joined the ACT Party, and upon being contacted by the complainant the party took legal advice which was to advise the complainant to contact a lawyer. The complainant said they would contact the police directly. End of story.
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:04pm
rouppe

Sadly I think Sam Kerr is going to get off her charge.

She’s pulled out all the victimhood cards – colour, gender, serial killer/rapist fears – and minimised vomiting in the cab, kicking out a window and racist insults to the police officer.
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February 6, 2025 8:57am
Maggy Wassilieff

How others see us:

Just to show you how, in the hiring process, New Zealand gives much more weight to identity than to merit, I enclose part of the job description for the position of Chief Operating Officer of Wellington Water,

https://whyevolutionistrue.com/2025/02/04/identity-based-hiring-goes-wild-in-new-zealand/
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February 6, 2025 8:59am
- rouppe
  
  It’s kinda true everywhere.
  
  Monday was the last day of a trip I took to Europe with my son. We stopped in at Nazaré while travelling to Lisbon to catch the plane. Walked out to the lighthouse, around the edge to get primo view of a dozen surfers riding bloody big waves.
  
  Couple joins us. Man and woman. I thought it was husband and wife. Had a bit of a chat.
  
  Turns out he was American, and moved to Portugal last August, with his husband (the father of the woman).
  “Oh, what prompted the move?” I innocently ask.
  “Well the USA is going crazy at the moment…”
  
  Man I bit my tongue. Wanted my son’s last memory of Portugal to be positive, so didn’t get into
  1. So you left before the election
  2. You moved based on FUD generated by the media
  3. You don’t agree with criminals being deported
  4. You think the majority of Americans, of all races, orientation and religions are wrong.
  5. You can’t see that illegal immigration has fallen off a cliff since he was elected
  6. You can’t see that after years of inaction that both Mexico and Canada are now actually going to do their jobs wrt their borders
  7. After 18 months of nothing suddenly Israeli hostages are being released
  8. After years of not pulling their weight, suddenly nato partners are saying we have to take more responsibility for Europe’s security.
  
  In fact if I’d started we probably would have missed our plane.
  
  Edit: one thing that DIDN’T happen the whole trip was that when people found out we were from nz they talked about Jacinda Ardern. Not one peep
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:28am
  - Hard Cheese
    
    He left, it’s his decision. I don’t get why you feel you need to impose your views on him. Is it an attempt to make him feel bad, taking a shot at someone you happen to disagree with politically? I could probably give you fifty reasons I’d live in Portugal over the USA and none of them would have anything to do with politics. Maybe he’s completely happy with his decision.
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:58pm
    - rouppe
      
      1. I didn’t impose any views.
      2. I’m sure he’s completely happy with his decision.
      3. There are plenty of reasons to live in Portugal over the USA. The only one that came out of his mouth was “the USA is going crazy at the moment”.
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:50pm
- Conservatarian
  
  Magnificent. So Wellington’s water problems will be addressed by someone who firstly can demonstrate “an understanding and knowledge of” te ao maori, tikanga and “Treaty principles” and then [possibly] might be fit to run a large public bureaucracy.
  
  Doesn’t seem the problems will be solved then. So, how bad do Wellington water’s problems have to get before they seriously address them? When voters can no longer get water when they turn on their taps?
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:29am
  - Paulus
    
    Maori win again!
    
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    February 6, 2025 2:36pm
Terry Dalee

Mt Egmont has been determined to be a person with all the rights of personhood.

Therefore it should now be considered a PCBU, Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking.

Therefore it is now liable under the Health and Safety Act 2015 for all the injuries and deaths sustained on its slopes.. there is nothing in the Bill exempting the mountain from being a PCBU.

The people who “speak” for the mountain should also be accountable. There’s precedent here. The owners of White Island were prosecuted by WorkSafe ….

Just saying…
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February 6, 2025 9:02am
- rouppe
  
  Obvious consequence will be the mountain being closed to people wanting to walk up or around it.
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:01am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    I hope not but it has happened in Oz.
    
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    February 6, 2025 4:00pm
- Paul Marsden
  
  To the best of my knowledge, no one has lost their lives in the Wanganui River since it became a living person, which given its history, is a little surprising.
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:07am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Your knowledge is sadly out of date:
    
    Chase Swanson Feb 2020 (at Mosquito Point…One of my childhood swimming spots)
    
    Ruka Broughton August 2020
    
    Unnamed June 2024
    https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/body-found-after-man-vanishes-in-whanganui-river/DJZPWZ7PINDP5BK4OL3BF5NLGI/
    
    Unnamed Nov 2024
    https://www.1news.co.nz/2024/11/12/body-found-in-whanganui-river-believed-to-be-missing-man/
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:53am
sirknz

What is everyone else up to on National Grievance Day?

I’m off to help my dad with some work on the family home and possibly reclaim my water blaster.
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February 6, 2025 9:08am
- Gravelroad
  
  Similar.
  Am going to help family member with garden.
  Good luck with reclaiming your water blaster.
  Don’t like your chances if my experience of retrieving tools is anything to go by!
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:03am
  - Don Beckett
    
    Am about to get the garden tidied up, them do some stonework on my basement – which has been waiting for 2 0r 3 years. 🙂
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:30am
- rouppe
  
  Replace a washing machine hose that has mysteriously sprung a leak while I’ve been away.
  Replace screen protector that has sustained damage after I tossed my phone onto a bed and it promptly bounced off onto the floor.
  Get some food in.
  
  Very pleased to have a decent coffee this morning, first in a month. Coffee in Europe is pretty mediocre
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:04am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I’ve just pruned my fabulous white-fleshed nectarine.
  
  First time I’ve done a late summer prune on it (and the plum).
  
  I intend spending the rest of the day in the garden.. (with numerous tea breaks)….and will mow a couple of the lawns in the evening.
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:05am
  - David Garrett
    
    Maggy: I am feeling tired just reading about your doings today! Just another day at the office up here in the Kingdom.
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:35am
  - Countrygirl
    
    I dead headed my roses, pulled a couple of weeds, otherwise have been engrossed in knitting a cat today.😁
    
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    February 6, 2025 5:41pm
- Jethrod
  
  Have taken a chunk of beef from the freezer, to thaw,…..currently heating the hangi stones…… //
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:37am
- PurplePen
  
  Reading Kiwiblog and posting. Like this post. Then I’m going to chop some wilding pines before they’re old enough to cone.
  
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  February 6, 2025 12:52pm
- lifesgood
  
  This morning I painted my hallway. Now I’m knackered.
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:21pm
Bridgenag

Global News Round-up – Offbeat News
“Only dictators cancel elections” – Reform UK

“LONDON, Feb 3 (Reuters) – Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party overtook Britain’s governing Labour Party to become the country’s most popular political party in a new poll, reflecting public discontent in Prime Minister Keir Starmer less than seven months into his term.”

https://open.substack.com/pub/rwmalonemd/p/global-news-round-up-offbeat-news?r=1aj1bv&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
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February 6, 2025 9:16am
- Damocles11
  
  Would love to see this scenario play out in New Zealand. The ‘corporate guy with the folksy charm’ act worked for John Key, but that schtick isn’t working for Luxon. We need genuine leadership on the Right in New Zealand, not the faux leadership of gatekeepers for the establishment and status quo.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:27am
  - Benedict Yu
    
    TBH I think that John Key was smarter than Luxon. He also had outstanding Ministers in English, Joyce, Ryall, Bennett. Probably others I forgot.
    
    Who does Luxon have of that calibre? Simeon Brown is one. I can’t think of others.
    
    Here is my test. Transport prioirities have been transformed. Remember for a while Twyford and Julie Anne Genter were in charge.
    
    Health, Education, social housing, fiscal policy, welfare. Yes they are being run better. I can’t make this point strongly enough. They are being run better. Yes welcome. But not enough to save us. Not by a long shot.
    
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    February 6, 2025 10:31am
    - surfing
      
      Key was definitely more astute than Luxon.
      
      Luxon is unable to read the room. Key was an expert at it.
      
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      February 6, 2025 11:08am
      - Paulus
        
        Key was a top trading money Banker in the USA – you need to be astute for that or get squashed,
        
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        February 6, 2025 2:39pm
      - Chuck Bird
        
        I was a PM more than smart. I want him or her to have some principles.
        
        Key was happy to pay one of NZ’s worst mass murders almost one million knowing full well he was guilty. That is despicable.
        
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        February 6, 2025 4:04pm
Cassandra

American lawyer Manhattan Contrarian: “It’s only two weeks into the new Trump administration, and we’re seeing an incredible sea change start in the federal government.” Contrast that with the Luxon Coalition – after the election and the formation of his government, what happened in Wellington? Nada. They all went on a summer holiday for a month.
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February 6, 2025 9:28am
- David Garrett
  
  Cass: Some would say Luxon and his men and women are still on holiday.
  
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  February 6, 2025 9:50am
  - surfing
    
    It’s funny, National supporters lambast poor performance .
    
    Labour supporters double down and praise poor performance.
    
    Why is that?
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:09am
    - pdm
      
      Surfing.
      
      Definitely quotes of the year so far.
      
      Beats David Seymours by a nose:
      `We joined in Coalition Government
      We did not join group think.’
      
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      February 6, 2025 1:31pm
    - Allan
      
      Maybe we have higher expectations?
      
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      February 6, 2025 5:08pm
  - cmm
    
    Some would say that Luxon and his men and women are only just waking up to the fact that they won an election and are now supposed to be doing something.
    
    If nothing else, Trump has set a benchmark for how shadow ministers should act. While you are in opposition, spend your time developing policies and be ready to act on day one.
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:37pm
    - Paulus
      
      They elected Coalition Government are doing a considerable amount of changes, but the left wing Lsbour / Maori loving Media hate it.
      So they ignore anything thatbtyey can trying all the time to collapse the Coaltion.
      Luxon is a bald headed target all the time.
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:44pm
- Hollyfield
  
  I don’t object to a holiday over Christmas. I think it’s timing – the US inauguration didn’t happen just before a significant holiday.
  
  What makes my blood boil though, is the comparison of what has been achieved, and how the govt depts respect the leader. Trump said no more DEI and overnight DEI disappeared from US websites. Contrasted with Luxon who said restore English to Govt dept names and over a year later it still hasn’t happened.
  
  I receive regular letters from Te Whatu Ora – not from Health NZ. These are electronic so they’re not using up printed letterhead, they could change it in an instant, but haven’t. The most recent letter was this week.
  
  I phoned the Ministry of Education a couple of weeks ago. The automated answer message said that I had reached something I didn’t understand so I wasn’t sure if I had the right number. I stayed on the line and the voice went on to say “if you are calling about blah-blah-blah press tahi, if you are calling about blah-blah-blah press rua”. I ended up not pressing any option and wasting the time of the real person who had to direct me to the right department. What is the point having an automated system to direct people to the right department, if a real person ends up being the telephonist as well. I can actually count in Maori, but not instantly translate, I could have worked out the correct option for me, but I was distracted in spending time translating and didn’t remember the department attached to each number. The point of communication is to be clear, not confusing or distracting. The easy solution for them would be to have a first option “do you want English or Maori”. Then after pressing 1 or 2 the caller could get the entire message in their chosen language.
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:12am
  - Cassandra
    
    riffer Will sort it out. Although s/he thinks it’s your fault.
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:16pm
Yvette

Yesterday the Maori Party said there should be a Treaty of Waitangi entity to veto Government legislation or actions as befitting the Treaty or not – so one Ring to Rule them All – and I don’t know that anyone took all loud-hailers off them, or turned their backs to them, or their iwi disowned them or suggested they go a celebrate Waitangi Day in Oban.
Odd
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February 6, 2025 9:44am
Steve Otto N Shore

That flagpole is not straight – seems to be leaning to the left.
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February 6, 2025 9:45am
- Jethrod
  
  Walk around the other side.
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:41am
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Oh that is the other left!
    
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    February 6, 2025 3:30pm
Paul Marsden

The first thing I see on TV1 early this morning, is a couple of flags being waved around at Waitangi, that weren’t the official flag of New Zealand. That said everything to me about the disunity in New Zealand and how dysfunctional we have become as a society. Would it be too much to dream that only our National flag will fly again there sometime in the near future, signifying we have come together again as one Nation, or do we all I have to continue to endure this living nightmare of racial discord..??
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February 6, 2025 10:01am
- Paulus
  
  One Flag was derived I understand from the House Flag of the Shaw Saville Shipping Line, who travelled here years ago regularly.
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:46pm
  - Cantabrian
    
    Other way round – Shaw Saville adopted the ‘independence’ flag after it ceased to have any status. (The flag was designed to be worn by New Zealand vessels pre-1840, so they could trade to New South Wales and obtain customs clearance.
    
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    February 6, 2025 4:11pm
Scooter

The way Maori words have been inserted into English sentences, not to mention the many that have been created since Maori had no word previously, is just another form of indoctrination into Maori wonderfulness. It’s nothing to do with learning the language because English with a Maori word here and there is not a language. It’s nothing more than a subjugation or bringing us under control or domination. Little by little it’s happening through means of language, government, schools, law, etc it’s all encompassing.
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February 6, 2025 10:05am
- PurplePen
  
  A good friend has been indoctrinated somehow. We were out for a walk, approached a gate which one from group of young men held open for us. My friend said Kia Ora to them in what sounded forced and aristocratic, when the natural reaction would have been to say thanks or thank you. My guess is he didn’t know the Maori word for thanks. The young men all looked Maori and I suppose that’s why he used Kia Ora, which I thought was somewhat condescending. I just said thanks as one might be expected to in such circumstances.
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:00pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Purple: I am pretty sure – but don’t quote me – that Maori has no discrete word for “thank you” (unlike the Tongan “Malo”)…kia ora seems to have several meanings, depending on the context.
    
    But FWIW I never use it – my language is English, and everyone understands what “thank you” means. If I was to say “kia ora” I would feel like a pretentious fraud…but then I’m an old bugger.
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:59pm
    - Ghost
      
      https://maoridictionary.co.nz/search?keywords=thank+you
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:11pm
      - PurplePen
        
        Thanks .. or tena koe. I didn’t realise that’s what ‘ten ah kwe’ meant. Hear it all the time but never twigged.
        
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        February 6, 2025 5:02pm
    - Damocles11
      
      Car pie?
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:57pm
    - PurplePen
      
      Yeah. I thought my friend’s use was pretentious. Certainly came out that way. I must mention it to him next time it occurs.
      
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      February 6, 2025 5:04pm
- Paulus
  
  Like Rust Maori goes on continually and cannot be stopped as we are seeing daily still.
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:47pm
Benedict Yu

So the left are losing their minds. Trump wants to take over Gaza, relocate the occupants, and transform it into a US territory as a development zone.

I don’t know whether that will happen. However my question to those freaking out is “What is your proposal?” because it is currently a permanent mess. A “two state solution” is a fantasy. One of those states will be a terrorist state intent on destroying the other state.

So I agree with Trump. We have tried the other way for 70 years.

I would add that resettling 1.7 million people is not a challenge without precedent. Just look at the population movements within and out of Europe after ww2.

Is it a challenge? Yes. But the alternative is 1.7 million people living in bomb craters on top of terrorist tunnels.
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February 6, 2025 10:18am
- Hollyfield
  
  Someone commenting on this proposal said the UN has said it will cost $60 billion to rebuild Gaza.
  
  He divided that sum by the number of people and said you could offer $200,000 to each person living in Gaza to move somewhere else and start a new life away from Hamas.
  
  I have not searched to verify his figures, but aside from the actual numbers I thought it’s an interesting point – if these people really are civilians, and just want to live a peaceful life, this could be their opportunity.
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:17am
  - Tom Hunter
    
    Don’t know if that was me but I made the same argument in an article I wrote a few months ago, After Hamas.
    
    When you consider that the current Israel-Hamas war has cost over $50 billion to date, and add in that low-balled rebuild estimate, we’re already at $100 billion just to restore a staus quo that’s produced the current disaster.
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:05pm
  - rouppe
    
    He divided that sum by the number of people and said you could offer $200,000 to each person living in Gaza to move somewhere else and start a new life away from Hamas.
    
    Well you could do that but then you’re still left with a waste land and still have to spend money doing something with it.
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:24pm
- In Vino Veritas
  
  The biggest issue is that no Arab country will want them. They all saw what happened in Lebanon and don’t want to become that country. Though Jordan took 300,000 from the West Bank in 1967 after the 6 day war. The only difference were that they had all been made Jordanian citizens when Jordan annexed the West Bank in 1950.
  
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  February 6, 2025 11:57am
  - Allan
    
    Pertinent to mention that they then built there own empire within Jordan.
    
    The Jordanian civil war ensued with Israel and Pakistan ably assisting Jordan in the victory over them.
    
    From there they moved to Lebanon.
    
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    February 6, 2025 5:15pm
- Handyman
  
  Fifteen years ago the Gazans achieved their goal of total political independence.
  They established their borders and had free elections. They had diplomatic relations with other countries and each day 30,000 Gazans would commute across the border to work in Israel.
  Part of the agreement was ethnic cleansing of Jewish settlers. The Israeli army was required to forcibly remove 6,000 Jewish residents and demolished their homes.
  The UN provided housing and food for the population. Israel provided all the water and electricity.
  
  They could have created the Riveria of the Middle East and lived in peace.
  Instead, they elected Hamas which was externally focused on the destruction of Israel. The Hamas strategy was to keep Gazan residents poor, hungry and angry, ready to be a martyr for Hamas.
  
  The current demands of Hamas are to return to the exact conditions of fifteen years ago. The Israeli view is “you had your chance. FAFO”.
  
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  February 6, 2025 12:13pm
- artemisia
  
  How much for each person or hostage killed on or after October 7? Maybe Hamas didn’t notice that retribution was rather likely, or the scope of.
  
  Hamas militants now have a chance to put down their ideology and help rebuild Gaza. Lots of released prisoners coming their way to help, not to mention big dollars. (Maybe not from USAID.)
  
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  February 6, 2025 12:19pm
  - kowtow
    
    Rebuild?
    
    It is reported that numbers of the previously released terrorists in the hostage deals have returned to the fray and are currently engaging the IDF and meeting the end that they so richly deserve.
    
    Again nothing in our “news” about that , is there .
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:43pm
    - Paulus
      
      Did you expect otherwise ?
      Hamas is still regrouping with Iranian funds etc, an will attack again.
      
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      February 6, 2025 2:50pm
  - rouppe
    
    Hamas militants are well looked after for being militants. Fed, housed, paid…
    
    Why would you turn that down to scratch a living?
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:27pm
- PurplePen
  
  I did note that a lot of the countries in Arabia or the Levant were quick to say they didn’t want them. Not brothers then?
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:03pm
- Inandout
  
  BY, 1.7 million is a piddling number compared with the 12 million who flowed into the US during the demented one’s term.
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:44pm
NoFax

Donald Trump said that the US will take over the Gaza strip and send the Arabs there elsewhere. With Trump it’s hard to know exactly what he means on this or if this is some form of negotiation tactic (which I assume it is). However, on the face of it it’s rather bold and very controversial to say the least. Some have said this is ethnic cleansing and others said that it’s the consequence of numerous wars and the Arabs have shown that they can’t have a State. One thing though it’s probably not illegal as they are refugees and following Trump’s plan they are being permanently settled which happens everyday for many refugees.
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February 6, 2025 10:22am
- rouppe
  
  He’d be mad to do that.
  
  Every other time us forces have been in a place like that (Iraq, Afghanistan) they get shot in the back, blown up, beheaded.
  
  Nope, stay out the place.
  
  His strategy should be to further a two state solution, and the real success would be to get Palestinians to admit they don’t believe in that and only want the eradication of Jews and the Israeli state. Then the world can see them for what they are.
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:30pm
  - NoFax
    
    Two State solution?!? After 80+ years of aiming for that and we got what? But this time it will be different? US intervention in Gaza only make sense if there are no Arabs there.
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:42pm
    - rouppe
      
      Well the only options seem to be
      1: eradication of the Palestinian state (of Gaza)
      2: eradication of the state of Israel
      3: eradication of both
      4: formal establishment of both, with each recognising the other
      
      1&2 are not palatable.
      3 means everyone has to go somewhere else and then what happens to the empty land
      4 is the two state solution.
      
      You don’t agree with 4, so you either agree with one of the other 3 or there’s another idea no one else has thought of.
      
      What is your solution?
      
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      February 6, 2025 8:23pm
- Allan
  
  What he means, as has been stated, is that they move out temprarily while the place is rebuilt by the USA.
  
  Then they can return to establish a Hamas free life full of happinesss and joy.
  
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  February 6, 2025 5:17pm
Steve Otto N Shore

Wanganui. Why It’s Become NZ’s Big Problem City (PART 2)
This will happen to other NZ Councils unless stopped.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ-3cBC7dig
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February 6, 2025 10:29am
cmm

Trump does deals.
He likely has little intention of embroiling USA in occupation of Gaza for multiple decades.

It is far more likely that this is an opening move to try to get Egypt to take back control of Gaza. Egypt receives billions of dollars of US aid and can be coerced to take back Gaza and control it properly.

I 100% agree that there is no 2 state solution. The only solution is to have Gaza occupied by a stabilizing force. For political reasons that cannot be Israel.

Gaza was once Egyptian controlled, but the Egyptians refused to take it back when Israel moved out. It would make a lot of sense to twist Egypt’s arm to take over control of Gaza. At least if Muslims control Muslims the UN-luvvies get less upset.
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February 6, 2025 10:30am
- mandk
  
  The Egyptians are way too smart to want to take over Gaza.
  
  They have enough troubles of their own without trying to assimilate a radicalised population of 2 million.
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:41am
  - surfing
    
    Egyptians don’t like the Palestinians either.
    
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    February 6, 2025 11:10am
  - PurplePen
    
    Are all 2 million radicalised? Just asking. Or is it just the Hamas? Or do the majority of Palestinians or whatever they’re supposed to be known as support Hamas?
    
    I have to say, thank God I wasn’t born there. NZ doesn’t seem so bad.
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:06pm
    - Chuck Bird
      
      “Are all 2 million radicalised? ”
      
      Just 1,999,999.
      
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      February 6, 2025 4:11pm
- thirteenstars
  
  That won’t work. The Egyptians would have zero incentive to prevent the reincarnation of Hamas and the rockets would continue to fly. Most of the supplies used by Hamas came in from Egypt either with officials looking the other way or via the tunnels running under the Egypt-Gaza border. Either way, the Egyptian state could have closed that down. They didn’t.
  
  Trump’s right. Facilitate a massive cleanout and start again. Temporary relocation is a cunning plan. I imagine a good percentage won’t want to return and those that do will be thoroughly vetted.
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:57am
- kowtow
  
  The PA “controlled” parts of Judea Samaria are turning into Hamas hotbeds right now . Almost daily terrorism .
  Very little to nothing in the “news” .This is the alleged 2 state solution in reality . A disaster .
  
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  February 6, 2025 10:57am
- Allan
  
  Gaza was Egyptian land until they lost the Sainai in wartime.
  
  When Israel traded land for peace Egypt did not want Gaza returned.
  
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  February 6, 2025 5:20pm
sungsamning

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/west-point-disbands-clubs-b2692864.html
West Point Disbands Clubs Related to Gender, Race and Ethnicity After Trump Executive Order.
A memo authored by Deputy Commandant Chad Foster dated February 4 announced the following groups would no longer be allowed to operate at the school: Asian-Pacific Forum Club, Contemporary Cultural Affairs Seminar Club, Corbin Forum, Japanese Forum Club, Korean-American Relations Seminar, Latin Cultural Club, National Society of Black Engineers, Native American Heritage Forum, Society for Hispanic Professional Engineers, Society of Women Engineers Club, Spectrum and the Vietnamese-American Cadet Association. [That’s a great idea. Burn down all the woke garbage, and salt the ground.]
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February 6, 2025 10:53am
sungsamning

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/02/revealed-politico-received-huge-amounts-taxpayer-money-usaid/
Politico Received Huge Amounts of Taxpayer Money From USAID — Awarded Over $8 Million in Hundreds of Grants.
Now it is starting to make sense.

Unbeknownst to the vast majority of Americans, Politico was receiving huge amounts of taxpayer money from USAID.
As Donald Trump and Elon Musk seek to gut the corrupt agency and stop the disbursement of billions of dollars around the world, many people have pointed out some of the most ludicrous “grants” handed out by USAID.
Among the lucky recipients is Politico, a prominent digital news company covering U.S. and global politics. [Did any ‘fourth estate’ organizations here get money?]
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February 6, 2025 10:54am
thirteenstars

Trump signs EO banning men from female sports:

https://www.youtube.com/live/s2-5XVCJi_w?si=7VXP7AmBR-6dkJZo&t=6119

He sure knows how to create a photo op, getting the kids to gather round. Pretty heartwarming in an age of relentless cynicism.
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February 6, 2025 11:05am
- PurplePen
  
  Holy cow batman. I watched that. He a master at it.
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:12pm
- Ghost
  
  Now watch many of the trans athletes, especially in school sports stop being trans now that they cannot compete and win.
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:22pm
- Chuck Bird
  
  He did not sniff any little girl’s hair.
  
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  February 6, 2025 4:12pm
  - PurplePen
    
    Nor pull on their pony tail.
    
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    February 6, 2025 5:06pm
Swifty

David Seymour gets stuck into Guy Williams at Waitangi:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=owGl2qGbSRg

Williams doing his best to get content for his ‘comedy’ I guess.

Good to see Seymour giving it back to him.
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February 6, 2025 11:22am
- Don Beckett
  
  Seymour was brilliant during that whole interview – taking the piss out of Guy Williams was the icing on the cake. 😆
  
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  February 6, 2025 12:03pm
  - Jack5
    
    Seymour on form and out-fencing biased pseudo-journalists.
    
    To Guy Williams: “That’s why you’re not a real journalist.”
    
    Williams’s not a real comedian either.
    
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    February 6, 2025 12:27pm
- thirteenstars
  
  If you could get people to watch the entire presser it would reveal to them how toxic NZ media has become.
  
  Here’s the first exchange between Williams and Seymour:
  
  https://youtu.be/owGl2qGbSRg?si=Id8fciMU6HdDTIno&t=196
  
  Notice how Williams [the tall git at right] waves his head from side to side, mouth open, acting out being offended.
  
  Here’s the second in which Williams used strong language and an illustration of why he’s neither a journalist or a comedian:
  
  https://youtu.be/owGl2qGbSRg?si=9LmYgsZW9sjEpOro&t=791
  
  Mostly women there. Bitchy, nasty, gotcha questions, mostly irrelevant to anyone with a functioning frontal lobe.
  
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  February 6, 2025 12:38pm
  - kowtow
    
    Who was the girl in black , obsessed with “haka” ?
    Talk about dumbarsed questions .
    
    Same with the woman from the M station , obsessed with race.
    
    What a shit show we have for media.
    
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    February 6, 2025 3:07pm
  - PurplePen
    
    Watched it. Pretty hard to fault Seymour. I wouldn’t want the job. He answers every question without dancing on the head of a pin, and does it professionally.
    
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    February 6, 2025 5:25pm
- grumpy
  
  Guy Williams, lovingly dressed from the best clothing stores in Auckland ……at a very reasonable price!
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:40pm
  - Paulus
    
    Wasn’t he once the male partner of a well know Green MP now no longer ?
    Or have I got the wrong one ?
    
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    February 6, 2025 2:52pm
    - kowtow
      
      P
      
      Yes partner of the 5 finger discount artist , thus the comment above re pricing.
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:06pm
    - thirteenstars
      
      You have the right one. Makes sense.
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:35pm
    - keepcalmcarryon
      
      Golriz stole his heart.
      
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      February 6, 2025 3:36pm
      - Terry Dalee
        
        Golriz stole any ability Guy had to be funny …
        
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        February 7, 2025 12:21am
- rouppe
  
  Goodness me.
  
  Just reinforces for me that most people who call themselves NZ comedians are as funny as a bucket of cold sick.
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:55pm
- lifesgood
  
  Brilliant! Guy Williams got absolutely owned. Go David! Actually, David was correct, the manner in which Guy asked his questions was appalling and he is certainly no comedian. What a clown.
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:49pm
  - Terry Dalee
    
    Clowns are funny. Guy isn’t…
    
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    February 7, 2025 12:22am
- Ghost
  
  Don’t worry, if guy has another season of his show he will use that footage to show how evil the government is.
  
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  February 6, 2025 3:04pm
Sparrow

I might have misheard a news bulletin at 10am on our local radio. A Waitangi spokesman said turnout had been lower than expected and Winston and Shane Jones were absent. Nothing on 11am bulletin and can’t find it on any news site. Strange
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February 6, 2025 11:26am
- Sparrow
  
  Found it. There is video of the outgoing chairman of the Waitangi Trust on the NZH website. He said he did not know why Winston was not there today, and turnout was less than expected. You would have thought the media would have made a big deal out of Winstons non appearance and lower turnout, instead hidden away on a video which most people will ignore. Will it be on 6pm news?
  
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  February 6, 2025 12:47pm
- PurplePen
  
  ODT reported thousands were expected but didn’t turn up.
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:13pm
  - rouppe
    
    That should be something they should reflect on, alongside considering whether certain behaviours have contributed to that situation
    
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    February 6, 2025 1:57pm
Tom Hunter

Meanwhile in forgotten news, Police Constable Who Investigated British Grooming Gangs Says Evidence was Met with Indifference:

We had hundreds of pages of reports from social workers, sexual health clinics, and care home staff. We had precise locations of abuse, car registration plates, names, addresses, and testimony from witnesses with corroborating accounts. And yet not one of the 97 suspects we had gathered evidence against was charged with rape, and not one of the 26 young victims would see justice. It was as if all my life’s work and all these children’s lives meant nothing at all. Meanwhile, the abusers were still roaming free, able to target more children.

That was the Manchester Police and looking at this I’d say they’re worse now. Looks like a hostage video.

The authorities didn’t care. They still don’t.
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February 6, 2025 12:09pm
- thirteenstars
  
  “It was as if all my life’s work and all these children’s lives meant nothing at all.”
  
  Which is why good people no longer apply for jobs like his and the ranks are replaced by diversity hires and toadies.
  
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  February 6, 2025 12:42pm
Maggy Wassilieff

PM Luxon’s Waitangi Day speech.

https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA2502/S00034/waitangi-day-speech-to-ngai-tahu-onuku-marae.htm
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February 6, 2025 12:44pm
- Ra Henare
  
  I wonder what Planet Luxons speech writers are on?
  
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  February 6, 2025 1:39pm
  - NK
    
    From the speech:
    
    The Treaty Principles Bill is one such challenge.
    
    National has made it clear that we will not support this Bill and it will not become law.
    
    National Governments have always worked constructively and productively with Māori on Treaty issues while ensuring equal citizenship and equal opportunity for all New Zealanders.
    
    That will continue under my government.
    
    Except he refuses to pass a law that will provide exactly that.
    
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    February 6, 2025 4:31pm
- Jack5
  
  Sorry that PM Luxon called the the Treaty Principles Bill a challenge.
  
  Bills on contentious issues when those bills don’t progress beyond first reading can give people a chance to express their views – a chance for politicians to listen.
  
  More than 300,000 online submissions!
  
  Chris Luxon’s managerial background surely makes him value the breadth of such feedback and at minimal cost. It’s marketing-decision gold.
  
  Let’s have more bills with online submissions.
  
  With MMP being such a coalition-requiring bag of nails, bills like the Treaty Principles Bill should be welcomed, regardless of any outcome – or none – beyond first reading.
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:13pm
  - NK
    
    It is a challenge to weak leaders who don’t wish to confront such challenges.
    
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    February 6, 2025 4:45pm
- kowtow
  
  Well that was telling.
  
  He mentioned Partner/partnership eight times throughout .
  
  And that 1998 settlement was N Tahu’s fifth !
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:46pm
  - thirteenstars
    
    Oh, he’s completely in the tank for co-governance and partnership. It’s not just a political tactic to win hearts and minds, he really subscribes to it.
    
    His rhetoric around the TPB is so pointed and trenchant that it defies explanation unless you come to the above conclusion.
    
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    February 6, 2025 3:39pm
- Damocles11
  
  Luxon wishing everyone a happy Waitangi Day on X. The comments are gold, everyone calling it New Zealand Day.
  
  https://x.com/chrisluxonmp/status/1887223593341522146
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:54pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  “I am proud National started the Treaty settlement process 30 years ago, and most settlements have been completed under our National governments.
  
  I will make every effort to see the outstanding claims concluded.”
  
  Um, we all know that these “settlements” are NEVER full and final. Just an ongoing milking of the Net Taxpayer.
  Luxon is not on the same planet as me.
  
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  February 6, 2025 4:32pm
grumpy

Turns out, that just like so many Ardern policies (Covid, firearm confiscation, media corruption), NZ was only the guinea pig to find out how much a totalitarian government could get away with…,
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2025/02/turns_out_we_have_a_state_sponsored_media_after_all_except_that_they_didn_t_tell_us.html
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February 6, 2025 1:33pm
lifesgood

Apopros this utter stupidity of part Maori only claiming their Maori side and completely ignoring their, often greater, European side. I made a sarcastic comment a few days ago that some fellow by the name of Helmut Muklid who was mouthing off for Maori rights had a very “Maori” name. That was all I said. Another commenter on here told me I was racist. I fail to see how pointing out the obvious is racist.
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February 6, 2025 1:44pm
- Damocles11
  
  Any disagreement at all is labelled as ‘racist’. Any disagreement written as a published article is both ‘racist’ and the work of ‘the Atlas Network’. This is how the lying Left work, they are poison.
  
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  February 6, 2025 2:56pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  It seems to be racist to refer to folks’ mixed ancestry, but it doesn’t seem to be racist to constantly identify oneself by tribal affinity.
  
  12 0
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  February 6, 2025 3:23pm
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    Yeah. Steve Otto – Ngati Pakeha.
    
    8 2
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    February 6, 2025 3:45pm
    - Jethrod
      
      Just don’t go there Steve …… the fact that you use Ngati after your handle I think shows some acceptance of the situation, even if it was meant as sarcastic
      
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      February 6, 2025 9:22pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Facts are ‘racist’ these days. Actually anything is racist, if the racist person says so.
  
  8 1
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  February 6, 2025 4:35pm
- Allan
  
  It will always be greater.
  
  My understanding is that the last person with more maori that non-maori ancestry passed away a long time ago.
  
  As always, follow the money.
  
  Which ancestoy claim gives the greatest reward?
  
  QED
  
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  February 6, 2025 5:25pm
Jack5

Google ends diversity goals in staff recruiting:

https://www.reuters.com/technology/google-scraps-diversity-based-hiring-targets-wsj-reports-2025-02-05/
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February 6, 2025 1:51pm
SmokerGuy

Every Waitangi Day is increasingly depressing for me and I’m sure many others feel this way too. What should be a celebration is actually a reminder that the extremists in this country are slowly winning and that it no longer feels like a place where myself and my kids have a future. The left love to talk about how the treaty is for all of us, the way they behave suggests anything but that. I feel like the Ardern government set us on a path to destruction and it may take a while but I don’t think there’s any going back. It’s sad to see what this once great country has become, the left are treasonous bastards and I will never forgive them for the hatred and division they stirred up under Ardern. I despise this day and I’d rather it wasn’t a national holiday.
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February 6, 2025 3:42pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Ardern’s evilness runs deep, and will run for years.
  She did not fuck New Zealand in just her 6 years, she fucked our lovely New Zealand for decades, maybe more!
  
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  February 6, 2025 4:38pm
- AitchW
  
  Depressing is good description. We know that a tiny minority will make the powhiri at the Treaty grounds a pathetic farce.
  The group set up to protest the TPB is simply an offshoot of the Maori party run by senior member of the party. The media ignore that fact and treat the protestors like an entirely seperate entity.
  A handful of bitter losers are enabled and promoted by the media thereby turning the preamble to Waitangi Day into an embarrassing farce.
  Government MPs are abused and even assaulted if they turn up, and criticised if they don’t.
  Meanwhile the Maori party and its fellow travelers are given free rein.
  Farcical.
  
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  February 6, 2025 6:05pm
Steve Otto N Shore

How about a TDS meeting?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxTUgfWVs7g
4 3
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February 6, 2025 4:18pm
Steve Otto N Shore

Trump gets ultimate REVENGE for Mar-a-Lago raid after new AG is confirmed.
Trump said he would hunt them down and prosecute.

https://rumble.com/v6hfdeg-trump-gets-ultimate-revenge-for-mar-a-lago-raid-after-new-ag-is-confirmed.html?
6 2
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February 6, 2025 4:55pm
Jack5

What’s New Zealand going to do about the Cook Islands?

Revoke Cook Islanders’ NZ citizenship has to be one potential last-ditch measure.

Under constitutional arrangements, NZ is responsible for external policy of the Cook Islands.

But Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, who recently was claiming he could create Cook Islands passports and Cook Islanders could be nationals of both NZ and independent islands, is now trying to set up deals with China.

Brown is off to China for trade talks, Reuters says, though its report mistakenly says the Cook Islands are responsible for their external affairs.

Clause 5 of NZ’s Cook Islands Constitution Act 1964 says:

Nothing in this Act or in the Constitution shall affect the responsibilities of Her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand for the external affairs and defence of the Cook Islands, those responsibilities to be discharged after consultation by the Prime Minister of New Zealand with the Premier of the Cook Islands.

So did Winston Peters as Foreign Minister of NZ give Brown his blessing to visit Beijing?

More Cook Islanders live in NZ than in the Cook Islands. If they want to keep their NZ citizenship they perhaps ought to work to get rid of Brown.

The Reuters report:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/cook-islands-pm-aims-to-boost-trade-ties-during-china-visit/ar-AA1yuvkX
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February 6, 2025 5:03pm
- kglm
  
  The Realm of New Zealand, of which King Charles III is the King, consists of three separate countries; New Zealand, Cook Island and Niue. (The Kingdom of the Netherlands is similar consisting of The Netherlands and three separate island states in the Caribbean). If the Cook Islands wants to leave the Realm of New Zealand they would have no further connection with NZ, and require their own Head of State, currency, passport etc.
  
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  February 6, 2025 5:27pm
- fightingtemeraire
  
  What trade??? Used to bring Bananas down from Aitutaki, Mauke and Atiu. At one time 50 years ago we came back with a ship full of canned Raro juice every voyage.
  
  Only thing they have to sell are fishing rights.
  
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  February 6, 2025 5:50pm
Steve Otto N Shore

Liberals LOSE IT as President Trump makes history to protect girls sports.
Take a pen, take a pen. That is such a big thing no matter the age. Kids loved it.
He could have given away heaps of pens.
I want one.

https://rumble.com/v6he6xa-liberals-lose-it-as-president-trump-makes-history-to-protect-girls-sports.html?
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February 6, 2025 5:04pm
Swifty

I’ve snuck into Preston’s Meats in Porirua this afternoon. What a good butcher, of the old school – my mother shopped for decades and decades in the city branch, since the 70s in Hopper St.

Anyway, I’ve got a 2kg piece of pickled pork simmering away for dinner – haven’t done one for a few years.

Bought a bag of frozen lamb sweetbreads too. I’m struggling to remember if I’ve ever done them. I know I’ve done all sorts of offal over the years including lambs brains and testicles etc (the latter just to say I’ve tried them) but I just don’t recall sweetbreads, although I know I used to scoff them readily when they were a Homestead Chicken offering back in the 70s and 80s.

Any sweetbread reminiscences or recipes welcome.
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February 6, 2025 5:37pm
- kiwikidsnz
  
  My grandmother use to dust them with flour & fry them, sometimes with breadcrumbs
  
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  February 6, 2025 5:50pm
  - Swifty
    
    Yep, will give that a crack, cheers.
    
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    February 6, 2025 6:24pm
- Benedict Yu
  
  Here is a valuable tip. Soak the sweet breads in milk for 4 hours. In the fridge. Rinse well with cold water. Pat dry with paper towels. Lightly salt them and flour them. Pan fry in your choice of oil.
  
  The milk extracts blood from the tissues, improving the taste and texture.
  
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  February 6, 2025 6:08pm
  - Swifty
    
    Thanks Benedict.
    
    Yep, will do. I’ve soaked plenty of liver over the years, deer, beef etc and I’ve always soaked my wild rabbits too.
    
    I’ll likely gently fry the sweetbreads as you suggest, just need to figure out what sauce and veg I’ll have with them.
    
    Good stuff.
    
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    February 6, 2025 6:23pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Mountain oysters fried on a shovel. Yep, that was my past.
  
  7 3
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  February 6, 2025 6:41pm
  - greybeard
    
    And that, folks, is the latest “Tui” ad.
    
    6 0
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    February 6, 2025 8:03pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  You need to par-boil them (2-3 min) after you’ve soaked them in cold water rinses or milk.
  
  This firms them up, so you can remove the outer membrane, and any fat or extraneous tissue adhering to the flesh.
  
  (Then flour & fry… or beaten egg & Breadcrumb & fry… or break into small pieces and add to a pasta dish, etc).
  
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  February 6, 2025 6:48pm
  - Swifty
    
    Thanks very much Maggy.
    
    Yes, from memory that was my technique for lambs brains a few years back.
    
    Pickled pork was bloody good! I did a light mustard sauce, a creamy spud mash and cabbage and carrots from the garden simmered in the stock with the pork.
    
    A dish that has fallen out of favour a bit over recent decades but I do still enjoy it.
    
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    February 6, 2025 7:45pm
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Yummy…but it was too hot today to be bothering with simmering pots.
      
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      February 6, 2025 10:43pm
Ghost

I have an announcement next week that will impact the entire nation. Press conference date will be announced soon.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna

She got a prerelease of Ardern’s book and has banned it from all American retailers?
10 0
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February 6, 2025 6:33pm
bennerg

BBC Reports:

“Netanyahu gifts Trump a golden pager during US visit”.

I would check that pager out myself ….
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February 7, 2025 7:26pm

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