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September 21, 2025 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 21 September 2025

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General Debate

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CJames

When one looks at the sensationalised reporting of road crashes and fatalities, there is a significant under-reported issue. That is that about a third of the drivers involved in fatalities (99) have meth or cannabis in their blood. Alcohol was only 57 last year.
https://thespinoff.co.nz/partner/15-09-2025/drug-driving-in-new-zealand-how-bad-is-it-really
Drug use is very bad in Northland according to the sewage sampling surveys. So is their road crash rate. Cause and effect?
The problem it is not only the drugged that die. Many of the fatalities are innocent people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Think of the crash at Taihape that killed two motorcyclists and maimed another who were murdered by a recidivist drugged driver – gang member as well. And he got a light sentence by a jellyhearted judge.
When compared to the police/ government campaigns run about seatbelts, drunk driving and using cellphones, why is the drug problem not at the head of the advertising list? Why the soft pedalling? Is it because it is that the drug problem is reportably disproportionally Maori?
Maybe NZTA is about to start a big campaign and the sponsoring of the article is just the start of a hard edged enforcement campaign – police booze bus type checkpoints. One can only hope so, but they seem to just want awareness and conversations started. How wishy-washy can you get? Or is it toned down because of cultural sensitivities? Why aren’t the left’s Maori caucus coming out against drug use? Or does Palestine take up all their bandwidth? How many more deaths before it is treated with the urgency it deserves? So many questions and no answers forthcoming.
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September 21, 2025 8:01am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  A brave government would screen anti drug driving commercials entirely in Maori.
  
  This one won’t.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:03am
  - R
    
    Neither did the last government, in fact they paid certain groups involved in drugs.
    
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    September 21, 2025 9:05am
  - Eastlander
    
    My mum spent years working as a dental therapist, serving predominantly Maori communities in Auckland. The most important lesson she learned is that Maori do not pay the slightest bit of attention to public health or safety messaging. It just does not register with them all, and don’t think the health ministry hasn’t noticed this – hence the various road safety and anti-drunk driving ads starring Maori youth that we’ve seen over the years (anyone remember ‘ghost chips’?). It doesn’t work and it’s never likely to.
    
    Also, in Maori? You need to run the ad in a language they actually speak.
    
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    September 21, 2025 9:13am
    - Quail
      
      Eastlander,
      Yes , you mean English don’t you?
      
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      September 21, 2025 9:32am
      - Eastlander
        
        It would be interesting to know how many are actually capable of holding a conversation in it or following a broadcast in it.
        
        Actual, not claimed that is.
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:50am
      - pdm
        
        East – 5% to 7% isn’t it and that probably includes the `wannabe Maori’ without a skeerick of Maori Blood – eg Labour and Green MP’s who like to show off – Chloe Swarbrick is a good example.
        
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        September 21, 2025 10:19am
      - CJames
        
        When they have done surveys of who can speak or converse in Maori, the definition was you only had to have some Maori words in a sentence – speak in Manglish. And even that was only a small percentage of those who claimed ancestry.
        Despite the millions spent on “reviving” it, the language is not spreading in popularity. Only the wokest use it, and then more for ceremony and virtue signalling than the conveying of ideas.
        
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        September 21, 2025 12:12pm
      - Taieri
        
        Chloe Swarbrick is a good example
        ————-
        
        Is she actually fluent? By which I mean being able to hold a conversation?
        
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        September 21, 2025 12:18pm
    - kowtow
      
      When I first enrolled child in what was an excellent school based children’s free dental care , many tears ago ,there was a poster saying that in NZ the principal cause of children admission to hospital for surgery was rotten teeth.
      
      Not sure about now .But doubt it’s much changed.
      
      That has to be the most easily preventable negative health statistic in the country .
      
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      September 21, 2025 11:17am
- Gravelroad
  
  It is the fault of the coloniser that so many people are addicted to illegal drugs.
  You cannot blame the continued oppressed for causing traffic accidents when under the influence of meth.
  White man’s justice is not applicable.
  Be kind.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:18am
  - Boy Geoff
    
    Bob Marley taught that Jah provides…
    
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    September 21, 2025 8:50am
  - pdm
    
    Then again gravel.
    
    They are using that Colonial machine THE CAR!!!!
    
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    September 21, 2025 9:21am
    - Gravelroad
      
      Pdm – think you will find that it is actually a waka on wheels. Came on the ferry at the time of the great migration.
      The ones that went to Antartica had skis attached.
      
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      September 21, 2025 9:39am
- Boy Geoff
  
  Julie Anne Genter could grasp the opportunity to champion a nuclear moment for herself
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:20am
- kowtow
  
  Booze was targetted because the “Sisters” hated the culture of men at the pub.
  “Speed” is targetted cos it’s very easy to measure and prosecute.
  
  Narcotics and tired and distracted drivers are another serious issue that must be addressed , perhaps the powers that be have tunnel vision and/or bunker mentality. Or it’s still in the too hard basket.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:48am
- R
  
  This post highlights the reason why the country is struggling economically; CULTURAL SENSITIVITIES promoted by MSM mainly, and certain self interest groups.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:07am
- Handyman
  
  Remember Labour/Green policy is to ban cigarettes and legalise cannabis. To be implemented when they next get elected.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:28am
  - nathie
    
    Well they are guaranteed to cuddle up to the ~~criminal~~ “whanau” gangs again, supported by generous taxpayer funding.
    
    Will Labour/Green MP’s be asked to rule that out? What does the amazing Chippie say?
    
    Meanwhile, MSM tumbleweeds …
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:13am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  70% of violent gun crime is done by Maori and Pacific Islanders.
  The cops still licensed a number of known gang members.
  Perhaps a parallel firearms licensing system for our treaty partners might help ?(where they don’t get to have guns).
  No no no, identity politics doesn’t allow any negative stats to be assigned by race, only victimhood status.
  
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  September 21, 2025 4:55pm
- Keith White
  
  “Why the soft pedalling? Is it because it is that the drug problem is reportably disproportionally Maori?”
  
  Yes.
  
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  September 21, 2025 6:06pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Is Maori Language Week over yet?
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September 21, 2025 8:01am
- 2ic
  
  Kare au i te awangawanga mo te wiki o te reo Maori. Kaore he paanga ki ahau.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:43am
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    I’ll take that as a “no”, then
    
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    September 21, 2025 9:07am
  - Dave
    
    Given how wonderful and useful the Maori calendar is for food production etc, I’m a little surprised it’s an English language borrowing “te wiki…” rather than the original “te whatewha…”.
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:33am
    - Jack5
      
      Or: rāwhitu?
      
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      September 21, 2025 5:27pm
  - 2ic
    
    In case my attempt at humour wasn’t obvious, the translation is: “I’m not worried about Maori Language Week. It doesn’t affect me.”
    
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    September 21, 2025 11:04am
    - R
      
      It does. Pay attention to the world around you,particularly in NZ
      
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      September 21, 2025 11:08am
- Taieri
  
  Is Maori Language Week over yet?
  ———–
  
  Another 365 days to go…
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:46am
- Paulus
  
  Did I miss it, or could I not get sick of it perhaps.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:02am
- R
  
  Every week is Maori Language week,!
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:08am
- Pineapple Lumps
  
  Māori language week 2025 is over, in year 50 of the Aotearoan cultural revolution.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:40am
- JerJer
  
  Yes. I think so. Very happy to see all the news sites did not change the format of their news to support the dead language this year. Still annoyed we have to have a dead language week though.
  
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  September 21, 2025 11:38am
  - Paulus
    
    See that the Sunday Star Times is no longer named that ,but by a full Maori name.
    Anything to try and sell a paper to anybody.
    
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    September 21, 2025 1:50pm
    - Quail
      
      Use = Fish and chips, or a hell of a lot more basic.
      Problem is 80% plus of NZ won’t be able to read it.
      So the paper will have to be subsidised to survive.
      Good Luck with that!
      
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      September 21, 2025 7:48pm
Scott

Well I have been to Prime Minister, a glowingly positive review of Jacinda’s time as prime minister. There was a two thirds full theatre of about 50 people, every one of whom was a big fan of the former Prime minister, with the sole exception of myself.

I’m not sure where the money came from, and I would like to know, but it was a well shot, well produced inside look at Jacinda. How “kind” she is, how compassionate she is, how she has “imposter syndrome”, how much she felt the weight of responsibility and how she suffered on behalf of the NZ people. Her empathic face and inner sadness were highlighted throughout. How she strove mightily for us. Oh the empathy!

And what a lovely family, Neve featured throughout and Clark as an ever supportive presence. Clark Gayford was behind the camera at times and was listed as a producer of the film. And Jacinda was a mum and prime minister at the same time and how amazing was that!

She would rather have done too much regarding covid than too little. How she saved lives.

How terrible the protestors were and how much they were influenced by right wing people from overseas especially America. Apparently the protestors were QAnon conspiracy theorists!??

And it’s awesome how she has tirelessly worked to save us from climate change, which was mentioned at least ten times. Nothing about He Puapua, nothing about gangs and crime. But she saved children from poverty and saved lives from covid and hugged people after the mosque massacre and also White island she did something. And banning guns. That was awesome apparently. Also abortion!

So yes it was a very effective propaganda piece about Jacinda oozing empathy and kindness and compassion. Right to the end Jacinda is a brilliant communicator. Anyone from overseas who saw this documentary would think this person is amazing!

It’s only us actual New Zealanders who had to live through her actual governance who may have formed a very very different opinion.
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September 21, 2025 8:03am
- Dougal10
  
  You can guarantee they didn’t pay for it themselves as leftys have short arm long pocket disease.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:40am
  - Paulus
    
    Labour need all the support for the next years election as their Partners TPM and Greens will not help them but expect to be Government after the failed election -how many elections will we have to get a Government ?
    A National, Labour, ACT, and remnents of NZF Coalition.
    
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    September 21, 2025 9:14am
- Philview
  
  You must have a strong constitution to put yourself through that!
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:49am
- cas
  
  What an amazeballs she sounds and thanks for reporting so we don’t have to watch. Re White Island she came up, hugged a few people ( or it might have been thousands) and that was all. And did it show her amazing ban on plastic supermarket bags? A wander round the supermarket this morning suggested to me there is a lot more in plastic now than there ever was.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:57am
  - Scott
    
    cas – nothing about plastic bags I’m afraid. But she did save us from climate change which I guess is a related topic? Climate change was mentioned at least ten times.
    
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    September 21, 2025 9:18am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Great review… submit it to “The Spinoff”.
  
  https://thespinoff.co.nz/
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:07am
- Mod88
  
  And absolutely nothing on Madam Ardern signing off on Full Term Abortion either I’ll wager.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:10am
  - Scott
    
    Mod88 – yes, abortion was very briefly mentioned as allowing women to do what they like with their bodies, or words to that effect. Then we had another shot of young Neve, who was allowed to come into the world.
    
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    September 21, 2025 9:56am
  - Pineapple Lumps
    
    During the week the country was in the chaos of the first covid lockdown announcement.
    
    Then they accused Luxon of a secret agenda, effectively securing his promise to leave their clandestine and globally extremist abortion legislation untouched.
    
    Wouldn’t expect National to stand for the rights of unborn children – they aren’t the economy stupid. But Luxon with a truely conservative backbone and the support of the conservative Nats could have been a voice for the voiceless.
    
    So Ardern can rightly promote her activist legislation globally to the glee of the progressives everywhere. Kindness and empathy murdering more unborn children than before. Another area NZ is leading the way for the world – punching above our weight!
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:46am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Agreed.
      Abortion – the ultimate in child abuse.
      
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      September 21, 2025 11:48am
      - kowtow
        
        IIRC she declared that to be one of her proudest “political” ‘achievements’.
        
        Killing babies , hardly kind .
        
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        September 21, 2025 1:18pm
- Prince
  
  Was there any mention of the Economy ? Inflation ? Govt Debt ?
  Or is that left to the boring bean counters.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:14am
  - Scott
    
    Prince – not a lot on the economy I’m afraid. She was portrayed as bearing the whole weight of New Zealand on her shoulders. It’s almost like there was no one else in the government to help her?
    
    But not much at all on the economy. It was more about her empathy and kindness and compassion. She’s just such a kind person, doncha know? 🙄
    
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    September 21, 2025 9:59am
    - R
      
      She didn’t actually have anyone in government who could be helpful. Nearly all her economic and social disasters were of her own doing, under instructions from her Marxist masters
      
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      September 21, 2025 11:11am
- nathie
  
  Did the film explain the reasons why Ardern was largely absent from Parliament during her time as PM?
  
  Surely there was a “compassionate” reason for this? Like needing to ~~hide out at~~ visit primary schools on a weekly basis, to ahem, provide very, very, very important “leadership” for young Aotearoans and their adoring teachers too?
  
  Surely that would have rated an 11 out of 10 on the kindness scale!
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:02am
  - Ghost
    
    She wasn’t absent. If you are trying to hint at Thursday, every pm and opposition leader typically aren’t there on a Thursday. But apart from her maternity leave, she was always in parliament.
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:07am
    - nathie
      
      Ghost, have you forgotten media commentary that she wasn’t there from time to time? Or that she left work early each day?
      
      That like “Where’s Wally?”, it was instead “Where’s Jacinda?”
      
      Unless what was meant was, she may have been there but was absent from making appearances when it didn’t suit her.
      
      Being away, or absent, was a highlight of her leadership during the Parliamentary protests for example!
      
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      September 21, 2025 10:21am
      - Ghost
        
        She wasn’t absent and you can go to the parliament on demand or youtube site to see she was there. You can see her pressers in parliament during the protest, her 1pm Covid updates. There was a time when parliament was shut and they met online, but she was still there
        
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        September 21, 2025 10:28am
- mogg
  
  Jacinda has become a caricature of herself with the nose and teeth playing a very prominent part.
  Has she been on ‘South Park’ or ‘Spitting Image’ yet.
  The doco sounds like very clever satire, did they make any attempt to explain why she became unpopular so quickly when the money ran out.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:40am
  - Scott
    
    Mogg – the documentary was straight down the line. No satire. Just the swelling sound of the Hollies, “Sometimes all I need is the air that I breathe” to accompany footage of her wedding. I kid you not.
    
    The protests against her were characterised as far right extremists. It was acknowledged people were protesting against her. But those times were quickly skipped over.
    Now let’s get back to Harvard where she can be adored by a global audience.
    
    My understanding is that the labour party hierarchy told her to step down. Nothing in the doco about that.
    
    Certainly the footage of her resigning speech, her facial expressions, showed in my opinion she absolutely didn’t want to leave office.
    
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    September 21, 2025 1:34pm
- peterwn
  
  Bullshit baffles brains, especially those at Harvard.
  
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  September 21, 2025 12:24pm
  - Quail
    
    Sounds like the next NZ. Government will be Ardern and Hipkins led!
    Please , please say this is not so!
    
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    September 21, 2025 7:53pm
- cas
  
  You were right. The co-Director confirms it’s all about the feelz.
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/life/screens/movies/prime-minister-documentary-co-director-defends-it-against-criticism
  
  And Jim Mora interviewing Clarke this am brought up Ian Taylor’s conclusion that it is all about a brand as well as asking a few questions which seemed to be about did she have any regrets ie about COVID and wasn’t the road of kindness out of fashion.. Clarke pushed back on those of course.
  
  The family is in England as she has lots of work on there!! Eventually universities still find her employable.
  
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  September 21, 2025 1:52pm
- Observer of Life
  
  Thanks for taking the hit for us Scott. Much appreciated.
  
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  September 21, 2025 2:59pm
David Garrett

My second Sunday since returning from the Kingdom…no church bells at 5 am and 6 am! (No lectures please, Rev. Scott)

And how will I spend my Sunday, with the plethora of choices I have? Probably not much different from Sundays up there (since I am giving the booze a bit of a rest): Netflix and a good book!

The difference of course is down here I have a choice…other than the Nuku’alofa Club.
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September 21, 2025 8:05am
- hookerphil
  
  David, “other than the Nuku’alofa Club” reminds me of my daughter when she was teaching at a International School in Laos. She said how she had always wished to have time to go to a gym – now the only place she could go to was a gym.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:12am
- Ghost
  
  I hate going into town on a Sunday down here, the church bells are awful, just sounds like a competition for who can ring them the loudest
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:28am
  - David Garrett
    
    Ghost: Where is “down here”? But speaking of church bells, my secretary – delightful Tippi – assures me she can hear “their” church bells standing out from the rest
    
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    September 21, 2025 8:41am
    - Ghost
      
      Timaru.
      
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      September 21, 2025 8:46am
  - Ghost
    
    Perhaps the Down voters would like to come and listen to all the bells going at once, including the councils town clock. Bring your earmuffs, it’s not pleasant as they all mix into one sound.
    
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    September 21, 2025 2:11pm
- Scott
  
  David – as if I ever would. 😁
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:53am
Cassandra

Remember ACT’s Principles Bill? Peters: the Treaty has no Principles; Luxon: National will not be voting for this. It’s not clear what NZF is doing about the Treaty but National has its own Principles Bill – a copy of Labour’s. It’s in National’s back door local government policy.

Tino Rangatiratanga: The principle of self-determination provides for Māori self-determination and mana motuhake.

Partnership: This principle implies that local authorities will seek to establish a strong and enduring relationship with iwi and Māori, within the context of iwi and Māori expectations.

Equity: The principle of equity requires local authorities to commit to achieving the equitable delivery of local public services.

Active protection: Active protection requires local authorities to be well informed on the wellbeing of iwi, hapū and whanau.

Options: The principle of options requires local authorities to ensure that its services are provided in a culturally appropriate way that recognises and supports the expression of te ao Māori.

And National wonders why it’s all going pear-shaped!
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September 21, 2025 8:06am
- septic skeptic
  
  No – Luxon Bishop and Willis are playing 3D chess and masterminding the 26 election in a way mere mortals like us could never understand. National’s local government policy will gain a big swing to National in the Maori and woke demographics. And it will come at no cost of lost votes from the faithful centre right voters. A by-line in a blue pamphlet about ensuring equal rights in delivery of government services during the second term will keep them happy.
  Or maybe not.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:23am
- Ghost
  
  this isnt nationals. The Local government draft codes of conduct can be read Here
  
  The minster asked the local government to develop a code of conduct and report back to the minister with it in December 2025. The terms of reference can be found Here. At no point were they instructed to include the Te Tiriti o Waitangi stuff in it. I doubt that will remain in it.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:26am
  - Ghost
    
    Also here is nationals Local Government (System Improvements) Amendment Bill
    
    It includes clause 16
    
    Clause 16 repeals the requirement in section 57(3) for a local authority to consider, when identifying the skills, knowledge, and experience required of directors of a council-controlled organisation, whether knowledge of tikanga Māori may be relevant to the governance of that organisation.
    
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    September 21, 2025 8:32am
  - septic skeptic
    
    IF that is the case it simply demonstrates the lack of effective direction given to the public servants, and the confidence with which they feel able to thumb their noses at the minister. According to my observation maorification and he puapua continue under this government. We are well into the second year and I see very little being done to slow the trend let alone reverse it.
    
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    September 21, 2025 8:36am
  - Cassandra
    
    It is National’s. National appointed the people who wrote this.
    
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    September 21, 2025 8:38am
    - Ghost
      
      How about waiting until it gets submitted to the government and seeing what actually happens to those clauses instead of blaming the government for it when it’s not even in their hands yet.
      
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      September 21, 2025 8:48am
      - septic skeptic
        
        How about National start defending democracy and equal rights? The TPB should have been passed. If that had happened then these civil servants could have been given clear guidance on what the government wanted. If they still continued following the he puapua roadmap they could have been performance managed out of their jobs.
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:18am
      - Ghost
        
        The government is currently reviewing legislation to remove treaty principles clauses from it. national and NZ first said they weren’t going to support the tpb before the election. It was a dead lemon before the election. If Seymour hadn’t called it the treaty principles bill, instead tacked parts of it on to the human rights, which he still could do, I’d expect a different outcome.
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:26am
      - septic skeptic
        
        Taking a while this supposed review, isn’t it? Call me a cynic (or a skeptic) but I’ll believe it when I see it.
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:31am
      - Ghost
        
        Not really, it was due to report back in august, then given to the appropriate ministers to remove from legislation. It was expected to be completed before the next election.
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:37am
      - pdm
        
        We cannot afford to wait G.
        
        I have no confidence in Local Government Minister Simon Watts to do what is expected and what is right. I have said many times in the last few months that Watts is the weakest Minister in Cabinet and Councils are giving him the middle finger and walking all over him.
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:39am
      - Cassandra
        
        You are right, Ghost. The Commission was appointed by Labour. Its website is still as it was then, Maori prominent, font larger and bolder than English, members obviously Maori or supporters, noting necklace. So a different question, why has National permitted this? Why allow your opponents the opportunity?
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:40am
      - Ghost
        
        Push back from the public sector. A good reason why all political appointments should end with each govenrment.
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:53am
      - rouppe
        
        The government is currently reviewing legislation to remove treaty principles clauses from it.
        
        😆😆😆
        
        Nothing will happen this term.
        
        It should have been a “first 100 days” thing.
        
        They have lost all credibility, with me at least, with this debacle of a process.
        
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        September 21, 2025 10:23am
      - septic skeptic
        
        Rouppe I think you are right, nothing will happen this term. The plan was what exactly? To remove TOW clauses from every single bit of legislation where they are currently inserted?? So the government is going to find time in election year to amend all of these Acts individually? It rather stretches credulity! Mind you, if it happens it will certainly give TMP some much needed air time 😁
        
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        September 21, 2025 11:21am
      - Ghost
        
        It’s to review all legislation that include “the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi”. It was, I think 28 pieces of legislation that have that in them.
        
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        September 21, 2025 12:57pm
    - Ghost
      
      Btw, your claim national appointed them, again, is false. You can go see who they are Here.. They were appointed by Mahuta In 2022, their term is just about up and due for replacement
      
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      September 21, 2025 9:09am
      - Cassandra
        
        Okay. National became the government ages ago. Why persist with a report which they’ll bin? Unless of course it won’t be binned.
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:21am
      - Ghost
        
        I expect they will take what is needed from it and remove the treaty clauses. You’ll find out once the government gets it.
        
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        September 21, 2025 9:23am
      - Quail
        
        Ghost,
        “ political appointment’s should end with each government “
        They don’t,
        Bureaucracy is embedded securely throughout governance in NZ
        MMP ensures voters can’t get the results or changes they voted for because of a huge political machine choking any action.
        The effect of MMP is, if overseas counties is anything to go by , is voting turnouts of less than 50%
        Largely because of the widely perceived futility of voting at all.
        
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        September 21, 2025 10:31am
      - Jigsaw
        
        Ghost- A group of us have confronted local MP Louise Upston at her meetings and she simply doesn’t want to hear or know about any aspect of Maorification. Dismisses or simply slides around the topic. Absolutely hopeless!!
        
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        September 21, 2025 10:52am
- Paulus
  
  Which is why I hesitate to contend the result of next years election.
  Much has happened since the National led coaltion Government came to power ,and much of it will hit the fan next year , as is already happening led by the media continually, and I cannot see that we cannot have a women formulated elected Government and not the current one.
  Unless it is me the anti male, and in particular say Luxon ,are being loaded against by them.
  Not new , as we saw for Ardern, but worse now than I have seen I believe.
  It is as much hate as anything we ae seeing continually, that they do not intend to let New Zealand return to a peaceful and lovely land.
  As a very old man of former era I am very sad as I do not believe I will see any change before I become answerable to the Almighty, and give an honest answer.
  We tried, but not hard enough, so could not slow the sad social devolution changes we now see.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:31am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  Can you please provide a link to the Bill? I don’t think that you are quoting from a Government Bill.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:11am
  - Ghost
    
    It’s a local government commission recommendations, you can find the draft Here
    
    The terms of reference Here.
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:20am
- PurplePen
  
  If under treaty article 3 Maori have same rights and duties, why single them out above all others. By doing so, do they then no longer have the same rights and duties.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:34am
- PurplePen
  
  Could all those principles just as easily and more justly be written to apply to all equally. For example:
  
  The principle of self-determination provides for all constituents to have self-determination.
  
  Partnership: local authorities will seek to establish a strong and enduring relationship with all its community groups.
  
  Equity: The principle of equity requires local authorities to commit to achieving the equitable delivery of local public services.
  
  Active protection: local authorities are well informed on the wellbeing of its constituents.
  
  Services provided in a culturally appropriate way that recognises and supports the expression of all ethnicities.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:35am
  - kiwimike
    
    Purple
    they could and should but,
    they are not Maori.
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:55pm
Chuck Bird

Arabs are welcome in Israel who do not want to kill Jews. The video is an hour but worth it.

This Muslim Israeli Woman Is the Future of the Middle East

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LIcd7wHlCE&t=166s
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September 21, 2025 8:07am
- Yvette
  
  Likewise, Chuck Bird, this seems to have gone under the radar –
  
  New Zealand’s Muslim and Jewish organisations sign Harmony Accord at Government House
  22 Jul 2025, 04:00
  Today, leaders from New Zealand’s Muslim and Jewish organisations gathered at Government House in Auckland to present the New Zealand Harmony Accord to the Governor-General, the Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro.
  This landmark agreement affirms their shared commitment to promoting understanding, rejecting hate, and strengthening social cohesion in New Zealand.
  “This Accord is a powerful statement of unity, courage, and compassion,” says Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, Governor-General of New Zealand. “It reminds us that dialogue, even when difficult, is the foundation of a peaceful and inclusive nation. I commend those who have worked so tirelessly to bring this vision to life.”
  “To the leaders here today, you have my deepest respect. Your commitment to dialogue, to mutual respect, and to standing together in difficult times is something we can all learn from. Thank you for your leadership and for the example you have set,” says Hon Mark Mitchell, Minister for Ethnic Communities.
  https://www.ethniccommunities.govt.nz/news/new-zealands-muslim-and-jewish-organisations-sign-harmony-accord-at-government-house
  
  Do they have a different version of the Koran? Or do they, either community, have no direct connection to blood soaked land to war over? Besides the agreement itself, there are factors in this that main stream media seem to have ignored and television makes Taskmaster rather than documentaries.
  
  And of course, why is this Agreement needed when the Treaty of Waitangi already exists.
  I also wonder about that.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:38am
  - kiwimike
    
    It’s all Taquyia against the Kafir (that’s all of us).
    
    Using our own Culture against us.
    No mention of their beliefs and practices against the Kafir….
    or against Women per se.
    
    It’s worth no more than your nominal bog roll.
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:58pm
- kowtow
  
  Druze do very well there .And are literally heroic in the defence of their homeland and fellow citizens.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:53am
- Grumpy Silver Top
  
  That assumes all speak Maori which is questionable. Few watch television at all. Big social media campaigns would have stronger impact.
  
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  September 21, 2025 5:19pm
septic skeptic

For thee stats you quote to be properly meaningful we need to know the % of drivers on the road who are drugged/intoxicated and also the degree. Would there be twice as many drugged as drunk? Quite possibly if the risk of conviction deters drunk drivers.
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September 21, 2025 8:11am
- Fender
  
  Exactly you will fail a dope test a week after taking it which forestry workers know,does that mean it caused the crash or if you took both which statistics are you
  
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  September 21, 2025 12:47pm
CJames

There has been one major unreported loss with the departure of the US TV hosts. Saint Jacinda. With Colbert and Kimmel gone, how will she promote her book to her fans? I suppose she could always go on Fox. Either that or the taxpayer will have to pay for her self-promotion tour.
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September 21, 2025 8:13am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97h3ZVjRXJk
Nepal’s Gen Z Just Overthrew Their Government.
I am from Nepal. Here’s a short TLDR , the same 3 politicians have been running for 30 years with no development going on in the country. Their kids and grandkids showing off designer bags and monthly international vacations in social media while the rest of the country suffered. A trend started going viral on social media called Nepobabies ( nepotism kids ) basically showing proof of all the politicians and their kids showing off their wealth on social media, this was getting a lot of traction and the government banned 28 social media apps soon after citing these social media apps did not register according to the rules set by the country which is a bunch of bullshit. [Looks like Nepal just got a new government. Check out the first comment.]
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September 21, 2025 8:18am
sungsamning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOL_v3tM9SM
Brian Tamaki On Attending The ‘Unite The Kingdom’ Rally In London.
Sean Plunket talks to Destiny Church’s Brian Tamaki about attending the ‘Unite the Kingdom’ rally in London. [I await the TV 1 fake news version with bated breath.]
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September 21, 2025 8:19am
- G152
  
  TV1 thinks itself ONEderful.
  We think TV ONErus
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:43am
  - sungsamning
    
    That’s a clever play on words.
    
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    September 21, 2025 2:29pm
- imalwaysright
  
  Marvelous John Campbell has done a publically funded hit job on Tamaki and his Church.
  
  NZ today is like the Ardern Regime without the jabs.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:39am
Boy Geoff

Otago won the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury.

Finally, a rugby result to cheer about!
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September 21, 2025 8:25am
- hookerphil
  
  Since 31st August Southland, Canterbury and Otago have all held the Ranfurly Shield, 21 days. That is something to cheer about also. Otago’s only second win in (I think) 17 challenges.
  Back in the day (before NPC) it was a very rare occurrence for any team to be able to make a southern tour and win against these three teams.
  Unfortunately Southland’s wheels have come off with coughing up 193 points in their last 3 matches but Canterbury and Otago currently sit at the top of the table.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:59am
  - pdm
    
    hp – Southland took it off Waikato in early September to get this all rolling.
    
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    September 21, 2025 9:44am
    - Scott
      
      pdm, a slight correction, Taranaki had it before that. They could have beaten Waikato but in the last minutes the Taranaki First five kicked the ball dead instead of kicking into touch to get a line out 5 metres from the Waikato line. Waikato having been given the restart went down the field to score the winning points. Oh the pain!! 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨
      
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      September 21, 2025 11:39am
Sparrow

As the tragedy in the Middle East continues can I recommend that bloggers get to grips with the history of the creation of the state of Israel.
Emotions are high on both sides and atrocities are only carried out by the other side. In an attempt to achieve some even handiness on this site would recommend bloggers read about the Irgun and Stern gangs. Hamas might be destroyed today or tomorrow but the next Hamas fighters are being born right now, these hatreds do not go away. The Balkans, Northern Ireland are examples.
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September 21, 2025 8:33am
- mandk
  
  Isreal was a state more than 3,000 years ago.
  
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  September 21, 2025 8:53am
- David Garrett
  
  Sparrow: Indeed…and Palestine- and YES that is what the area was called under the British mandate- was never “an empty country for people without a country”.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:01am
  - Philview
    
    I read this morning that the British Government has recently proposed to recognise the State of Palestine. Now it seems the British Government could be up for 2 trillion pounds in compensation to the Palestinian State. The New Zealand Army was involved in battles in Palestine in WW1. Perhaps we will need to fork out a few billion in compensation as well for capturing Jerusalem.
    
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    September 21, 2025 11:07am
  - Interested Party
    
    That’s because that’s what the Romans purposely named it back in the day – apparently it was a political move ostensibly to undermine the Jewish part of the population
    
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    September 21, 2025 12:47pm
  - Paulus
    
    Was the whole area called Trans-Jordan ?
    
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    September 21, 2025 1:57pm
    - kiwimike
      
      no Paulus,
      Just the 70% of the Jewish Palestine Mandate (given to GB by the LeagueofNations to administer before the Jewish state was formed…..)
      That GB in 1922 gave to the Heshermites for Trade Favours…….
      That became Trans-Jordan and then Jordan.
      80% of it’s population is (so called) Palestinian.
      
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      September 21, 2025 11:07pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  In fact, I’d argue that in Northern Ireland, the hatreds are fading away. It will take a generation or two before the old rivalry becomes something that only manifests in a posturing kind of way (a depoliticising of Orange & St Pats day parades, for example).
  
  But, sectarianism used to be the only game in town. Now, Brexit, mass immigration, the de-Christianisation of Europe, internet and the wider world all impinge, not to mention a succession of Catholic Church scandals that strip priests of their previous moral authority. My view is that the Northern Irish will see that they have more in common with each other than they do with recent immigrants, the Irish or the Brits, and will adapt accordingly.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:24am
  - kowtow
    
    NMTB
    
    Can’t agree re NI.
    
    Sectarianism runs very deeply there and continues to.It is also continually being kept churning by politicians on both sides.
    
    The republic too .
    
    You’d think that after 100 years in the south they could find some reconciliation with the events of 1916 and 1919-21 .And indeed before.
    
    It is very much in the interests of the republican movement to keep ‘othering’ , to keep harping on about colonisation etc .
    
    This is one of the reasons the whole “nationalist” side both north and south is so dedicated to the latest hatred to be dragged up , anti Semiticism in the guise of concern for palestinians .You see they see the Jewish side as “colonisers”.
    
    NB Good Loyalist , Unionist opinion is firmly in the Israel camp.
    
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    September 21, 2025 11:28am
  - AitchW
    
    NMTB we have Irish friends in Northern Ireland. They report that the hatred between the two sides is still very much alive with no sign of abating.
    
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    September 21, 2025 3:41pm
- JerJer
  
  This is exactly why Israel need to bury Hamas under large piles of rock. Permanently. This makes it very clear to those who would consider rekindling Hamas ambitions that there is one outcome. Death for them. Israel cannot leave any stone unturned to achieve the total destruction of Hamas and anyone who supports or protects them in Gaza. That is what they are doing and they need to stick to it.
  
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  September 21, 2025 11:53am
  - Wandering Star
    
    Good lord. With sentiments like that in support of Israel, and so candidly expressed by yourself, it’s no wonder the world outside of Kiwiblog is accusing them of crimes against humanity in Gaza.
    
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    September 21, 2025 2:24pm
  - AitchW
    
    I suspect that getting rid of Hamas will be like eradicating all the introduced predators in a fenced sanctuary.
    You hit it with a widespread drop of poison which kills most of the pests, probably all of the cats, possums, pigs, deer and hedgehogs. A small number of rats and mice are left.
    A few weeks later you do another poison drop which kills all of the rats and most of the mice.
    But some mice live in the tree canopy and don’t come down to eat the bait. With no other predators other than raptors the mouse population starts to grow requiring more targeted poison drops.
    You never kill all the mice, so you have to do continuous trapping and baiting to control the population.
    Hamas are the mice. You’ll kill most of them but some are just too cunning to be caught. Except that Hamas are much, much worse than mice. Not only do they breed they indoctrinate other folks so the predator population is always threatening to explode.
    
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    September 21, 2025 3:39pm
- Graeme Hall
  
  I read the same argument time & again – that Hamas can never be destroyed. This view seems to suggest it is pointless to fight them. However, History shows otherwise. In the past, whole cultures have been eliminated. Sure there might be a few individuals left afterwards but the days of them ever returning to power as a collective group are all but gone.
  
  Here is a link to a New York Times instant best seller illustrating that whole nations & cultures have been annihilated before & no doubt will be again.
  
  https://www.amazon.com/End-Everything-Wars-Descend-Annihilation/dp/1541673522/?&_encoding=UTF8&tag=jhanson8343-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=d41594e5b4c9321d13f8a6cb01cb8e92&camp=1789&creative=9325
  
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  September 21, 2025 4:10pm
Yvette

Benjamin Doyle – farewell to them?
For someone who gives his personal pronouns as them/their, and the media then write articles that are nonsense to accommodate that, the distribution and style of pronouns in Benjamin Doyle’s own valedictory statement is of vague interest:

Unless mistaken :
First-person singular pronouns: “I” appears 25 times,“me” appears 2 times
Possessive pronouns: “my” appears 12 times, “own” appears 3 times

Personal sacrifices and responsibilities
“I returned to Parliament… I am willing to put my love… before my own needs; and even my own safety…”
Pronouns: I (×6), my (×5), own (×2)
Focus: The weight of choices is emphasized. He juxtaposes personal needs against duty to family, community, and kaupapa.
Here, Doyle intensifies self-reflection, drawing the audience into his inner negotiation of responsibility. ‘Us’ and ‘we’ would have dissipated that.

Writing pattern –
First-person singular (I/me/my/own) is concentrated in sections where Doyle discusses:
• Personal decision (leaving Parliament, prioritizing his child)
• Sacrifice and reflection (returning to duty, weighing risks)
• Critique filtered through experience (Parliament’s exclusionary structures)

Collective pronouns (we/our/them) dominate when he moves toward:
• Community responsibility
• Global or societal critique

Takeaway: The speech begins with intensely personal, almost confessional language, then gradually expands to collective responsibility and global perspective. The careful sprinkling of “my” and “own” keeps it grounded in personal stakes, but never so much that the vision of others is eclipsed.

So media just fell in with Doyle’s indication, not what he actually himself did in personal pronoun use …
EXCLUSIVE – Benjamin Doyle spoke with Te Ao Māori News Political Editor Māni Dunlop about their time as a Green MP, and why they decided to leave.
In their valedictory speech delivered this week, they described Parliament as a place of hostility, “especially if you are not a cis straight white man with a blue suit and a briefcase, but most of all it is not fit for purpose,” they told the House.
https://www.teaonews.co.nz/2025/09/21/a-tsunami-of-hate-doyle-reveals-extent-of-abuse-threats-and-police-charges-and-decision-to-leave-politics/
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September 21, 2025 9:09am
- Gravelroad
  
  My Doyle is yesterday’s man/person.
  He has had his few minutes of dubious fame.
  The governance experiment is over.
  Goodbye. Good luck. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:49am
  - PurplePen
    
    An excellent and succinct summary. Thanks
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:41am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Could it be that Benjamin Doyle was only ever a performance artist who shocked to make it to no. 20 on the Green’s List, and was even more shocked to find himself in Parliament? That his use of pronouns was just him ragging the media, who credulously lapped it up?
  
  It’s an explanation that’s at least as likely as the official line.
  
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  September 21, 2025 9:54am
  - David Garrett
    
    Nevermind: I think the whole pronoun thing was him having a laugh – to see how many children in the media bought into it; the answer: they ALL did, regardless of age.
    
    Oh, and he was number 18 on their list; the next one is number 19
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:13am
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Numbers, numbers … I’m sure I’m at least as accurate as Chloe would be, and I have no ambition to be the Minister of Finance.
      
      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chl%C3%B6e_Swarbrick
      
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      September 21, 2025 12:33pm
  - pdm
    
    Bollocks you might be right.
    
    mrspdm knows Nick Ratcliffe no 25 on the Greens List and he and his wife are getting very nervous too – only 4 idiots away from the Beehive now.
    
    I have met Nick’s wife – she is a nice lady and mrspdm says Nick is a sensible sort of fellow. Seems a shame he has linked up with the Greens.
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:35am
    - Steve Todd
      
      This sort of thing really annoys me and is one reason why I would raise the candidate constituency deposit from $300 (in place since 1993) to $750. (According to the Reserve Bank’s Inflation Calculator, $300 in 1993 Q2 is worth $577.38 in 2025 Q2.) Being an MP is a serious business. No candidate should stand for election unless s/he wants to be elected. Such an increase would go some way to deterring non-serious candidacies.
      
      If Nick Ratcliffe and his wife “are getting very nervous” — I seriously doubt they are; no doubt it was said in jest — then he should never have agreed to go on the Green Party list in the first place, and he definitely should not have stood in Tukituki, where he finished third, albeit a distant third.
      
      Yes, I understand Ratcliffe probably only stood in Tukituki so he could campaign for the Party vote, but in my view, it is insulting to voters that they need to consider the merits of candidates, whether Electorate and/or List, who don’t actually want to be elected, who are not serious about their own candidacy.
      
      What if, once the Greens’ List was finalised, the party started polling really well, finishing up at the election with 20% of the Party vote. Ratcliffe would have been an MP. Is he saying that, once he realised the game was up, he would have withdrawn from the List, or would he have kept quiet and become a reluctant MP, subsequently spending much of his time looking about for a plausible reason to resign from parliament a year or so later?
      
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      September 21, 2025 12:49pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    Apparently Doyle was too obnoxious, even for the Greens.
    
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    September 21, 2025 10:42am
  - kowtow
    
    No, that’s his schtick and livelihood.
    
    Recall the ngo he’s associated with is full of it.
    
    Really weird .
    
    have posted this before , can’t be arsed , repeating ad nauseam.
    
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    September 21, 2025 11:20am
- rouppe
  
  I noticed the liberal use of “I” in his resignation speech.
  
  Thought that was notable then.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:30am
  - Jethrod
    
    Didn’t use she/ it at all during their reign.
    
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    September 21, 2025 11:38am
- Notsofast
  
  Only NZ First stands between the law commission report mandating the pronoun embarrassment, and it becoming law, further legitimising the mentally ill autogynephiles and the trickle down effect on innocent children.
  Everyone should be warned.
  Posts like this could be illegal.
  And Act is wrong to paint this as a liberal measure.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:43am
- PurplePen
  
  Not that I care two hoots about Doyle. I do enjoy the English language and it’s usage. My guess is they/them is used as it’s a 3rd person pronoun without reference to gender. The only singular 3rd person is ‘it’ which the they/thems avoid. Not sure why as it’s the perfect fit. It’s singular and genderless. I/me is singular and genderless and hence it’s used instead of we/us.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:47am
  - Sacha
    
    I do too – and the use of ‘their’, which is used as a plural pronoun indicates to me that their understanding of the English language is somewhat lacking. We can blame the teachers –
    Bill likes HIS porridge.
    Bill and Ben like THEIR porridge.
    Bill likes their porridge? Ben, and who else?
    
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    September 21, 2025 5:25pm
Tauhei Notts

Phuc! She’s a good singer.
I see where Duc Phuc (Vietnam) won the Intervision Song Contest last Sunday.
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September 21, 2025 10:00am
- imalwaysright
  
  I’m imagining presenters and news readers trying to find alternative pronunciations of Duck Fuck.
  
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  September 21, 2025 10:45am
imalwaysright

On Q&A there was yet another economist saying that he (and virtually every other economist) got his GDP prediction wrong.

I’m not sure why we listen to any economists, they seem to be continually surprised by results that are invariably different from their predictions.

The only value of those who are always wrong is that you know that they are wrong.
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September 21, 2025 10:51am
- Ra Henare
  
  The thing that amuses me is the GDP current narrative is reduce interest rates. bleat bleat (ie screw those on fixed income from investments, ie pensioners)
  
  Nobody seems to take in to account that a large part(sorry, haven’t time to research it at the moment) is made up of government spending.
  
  Cut government spending and GDP growth goes down
  
  Are there any economists removing the government spend from GDP and getting the REAL economic situation in NZ.
  
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  September 21, 2025 1:24pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    Now have time to research after a nice walk along the riverside in balmy 26c.
    
    Using quarter on quarter numbers.
    Sept 23 Qtr
    Seems Govt % of GDP has reduced from 18.5% GDP (Private growth in Sept 23 was MINUS .4%)
    
    Dismal numbers until March 25 qtr
    Gvt % of GDP 17.5% with Private growth at POSITIVE 1%
    
    Over the last 8 qtrs Private GDP growth has beeun divided 50/50 in to poitive and negative numbers.
    
    Needless to say the hysteria about reducing Interest rates is way overblown in my view.
    
    Overlay the changes in RBNZ cash rates and see the change in GDP numbers….
    Looking looking looking
    
    Nope, cant see a correlation….
    Why?
    Seems it takes upward of 18 months to take effect.
    So looking at cash rates since Oct 23, when Mr Orr put rates up by 0.5% over the following 2 months.
    then downwards from 5.5% dec 23 to July 25 to 3.3%
    Yep still looking for the impact on GDP.
    
    WARNING.
    I am not an economist. Just a contrarian that likes to look at numbers, which led me to the relationship(I cant find one) between ONite cash rate and GDP.
    
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    September 21, 2025 5:53pm
Notsofast

The cult of Islam wants a charter school in Christchurch.

No please!

https://x.com/MarkHubbard33/status/1969183138602529181?t=SqZ901FRh2jBmGRiRVJ49g&s=19
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September 21, 2025 10:51am
- Ra Henare
  
  Why not? There is an Islam school in Auckland…
  I uderstand the fearmongering about muslim terrorists.
  But on that Basis Christian schools should be banned because Christians/non muslims murder more people in NZ.
  
  Ie Christchurch Killer, Aromoana Killer,
  
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  September 21, 2025 1:26pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    RH: “I understand the fearmongering about muslim terrorists.”
    
    Nothing to fear. It’s a religion of peace. Look around the world at the many examples of this. /
    
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    September 21, 2025 4:47pm
Nikola Donatello

Just out of interest I did an AI search for all partnership agreements signed between Iwi and local councils. These are not project specific. There are partnerships.

There are six this year.

Here is an example. It refers to a commitment to joint “layers of governance”.

https://www.horizons.govt.nz/news/horizons-regional-council-and-ngati-haua-sign-memo?utm_source=perplexity

Would be a great project for a good journalist to analyse and report.

Winston has done some good things but he engages in gaslighting. He lectures that there are no principles and no partnerships.

These agreements ARE co governance agreements. They would have been unlawful if the Treaty Principles Bill had passed. Happy to be corrected by David Garrett.

Surely the Local government Minister knows about this?
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September 21, 2025 11:03am
- kowtow
  
  Winston lectures.
  
  Actions ………not so much.
  
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  September 21, 2025 11:18am
- Notsofast
  
  I read all your posts with great interest Nikola.
  Thank you and keep it up.
  
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  September 21, 2025 4:20pm
Conservatarian

I asked my AI app “Perplexity” for BOTH of the total number of rapes reported in, and the immigrants arriving into, the UK in both 1996 and 2024.

1996 is important as it is the last full year before Tony Blair was elected as PM, and thus before his traitorous policy moving towards unrestricted mass immigration from the third world. A policy which his advisors have admitted was implemented to rub the right’s noses in diversity as much as any supposed benefits it brings.

Perplexity reports (for the UK) inward migration was about 55,000 in 1996 and *about 900,000* in 2024 and 2025.

Perplexity reports (for England and Wales only) “approximately” 4,986 rapes in 1996.

Perpexity reports that the equivalent number of rapes in each year of the early 2020s had risen to *over 70,000*

Perplexity notes the “steep rise” but then states the rise was “driven by legal, cultural and institutional changes that have encouraged more survivors to come forward.”

Uncontrolled mass LOL at this explanation.

Reported rapes 14x’ed in less than 30 years because the government and society moved towards a globalist and feminist liberal utopia where we just report all of the rapes more often?
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September 21, 2025 11:51am
alwyn.a

I was filling out my voting form for the Wellington Council this morning when I came to the question about having a Maori Ward.
Wellington currently has such a Ward, with a single member. However they also have two Mana Whenua members, who are appointed to their positions. Who get to appoint them is unclear but they certainly aren’t subject to a vote by the voters in Wellington. Nevertheless they get paid as if they were Councillors, sit on Committees as if they were Councillors and get votes as if they were Councillors.
If there is a vote to scrap the Maori Ward will these two seats go as well? Could a new Council increase the number of these people? Could they just keep on increasing their number indefinitely?
Can anyone explain what are the rules on these places which are, in effect, Councillors who the public don’t get any say in who they are and what they can do.
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September 21, 2025 12:08pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  The Maori Ward is a rort.
  
  The point of the Mana Whenua roles is that they are filled by the local iwi. Many here, myself included, are agin such roles, but one can see that local iwi do have a long term interest in the place (although not in Wellington, where Taranaki & Waikato tribes under Te Raparaha genocided the locals not long before 1840 – I digress).
  
  However, the Maori Ward is for any Maoris who live in Wellington City and may come from anywhere. For example, Tory Whanau is running for the Maori Ward. Her Maori forebears come from Taranaki and Hawkes Bay iwis. Maori connection to Wellington is nil.
  
  The irony is that New Zealanders of all stripes will vote for Maoris, and the poster girl that proves this is Her Worship, Tory Wanau.
  
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  September 21, 2025 12:45pm
  - Gravelroad
    
    I guess this comment will be adjudged as racist, or something, but I’m still puzzled as to why one section of citizens should have a dedicated local body “ward” at all.
    Anyone can put themselves up for election to a local Council.
    If they get enough votes, they are in.
    Looking at the candidate list for the town here, there are several standing from a variety of interests, backgrounds and racial backgrounds.
    If they run a good campaign that encourages ratepayers and citizens to vote for them with confidence that they will do a good job – so be it.
    However, we have a race based grouping in NZ that can’t or won’t do this and require the special privilege of their own separatist election.
    It is demeaning to Maori really, because the implication is that Maori candidates are incapable of being elected on their own merits.
    
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    September 21, 2025 3:35pm
    - SWIM
      
      The far bigger rort is where iwi reps get to sit on council committees to decide things like housing policy.
      Self selecting and completely lazy but what is worse they refuse to declare conflicts of interest.
      All the iwi have land under development and here one iwi voted down a development in another’s area as it would compete but under the guise of some undefined natural hazard.
      
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      September 21, 2025 4:41pm
[email protected]

Just curious about the Labour party website and National party website I had a quick look at both.

The National party website “news” talks about growth, housing, etc.

The Labour party website “news” only trashes National by listing all the negatives such as cost of living, job losses, etc.
8 1
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September 21, 2025 1:15pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

I see the UK are about to recognise Palestine as a country.

I wonder where they’ll set up their embassy.
8 2
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September 21, 2025 1:21pm
- MCōs
  
  I don’t know about the UK, but NZ recognizes many countries where we don’t have embassies
  
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  September 21, 2025 3:46pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    Cambodia being one 🙂
    The embassy in Thailand covers the region.
    
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    September 21, 2025 5:57pm
Ghost

If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!! President DJT

Truth social

Hopefully we stay out of this bad thing….
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September 21, 2025 1:52pm
- Ra Henare
  
  Unfortunately, I think Mt Trump is succumbing to self delusion. ie Threaten anything and his target problem will roll over.
  Ie bluster.
  
  Business thinking does not translate to the world of politics.
  
  As shown by the major players in Ukraine/Russia conflict where bluster is not working.
  
  Or the Palestine/Israel problem
  
  However, to be fair. It did stop the border clash Thailand/Cambodia. He threatened to crack up tariffs if they didnt stop fighting.
  
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  September 21, 2025 6:00pm
In Vino Veritas

Further to some posts the other day about local elections. Here is the personal statement of a Mayoral candidate in Auckland.
“My principal place of residence is in the Auckland Council area. I stand for Parliament with a hear full of ‘Aroha’ a Spirit grounded in tika, and a vision of a better ‘Aotearoa’ for all.
I honour the Whenua, the people and the Whakapapa of the land.
I am her not for ‘Power’ but for ‘Purpose’ to be a ‘Voice for the Voiceless’ and a protector of the Sacred.
Our Kuia and Kaumatua should not live in poverty, our babies should not go hungry. No Whanau should be without shelter, safety or hope. I will fight to end homelessness and uplift our most vulnerable – not with charity but with justice.
I walk with and for our Rainbow Communities who deserve not just tolerance, but true belonging & celebration. I believe in Building a Nation where Compassion, Dignity, Equanimity, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Humility and Aroha are not just values –
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September 21, 2025 3:11pm
- artemisia
  
  Standing for Parliament? Umm, does she realise the election is for Mayor. She’d fit right in to the Green Party.
  
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  September 21, 2025 6:33pm
Maggy Wassilieff

What is wrong with RNZ announcers?

I’ve just listened to the 3pm news where the announcer stated that Mt Taranaki (Taranaki Maunga) was under a heavy rain warning – and to expect rainfall of 150-200mm per hour!!!!!! over the 24 hours from 1AM Monday morning.

I’ve just checked the Met Service site…and 150-200mm rainfall is what is expected over the entire 24 hour period.
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September 21, 2025 3:24pm
- MCōs
  
  That’s for the information
  We were considering going there tomorrow.
  Not anymore. Our provincial towns have little appeal in that sort of weather; either way
  
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  September 21, 2025 3:42pm
- NZer In Exile
  
  Possibly not a good time to hang out the washing.
  
  3 0
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  September 21, 2025 5:08pm
- R
  
  Eng
  ENGLISH comprehension and sentence construction is no longer a requirement in our schools. ERICA is fixing that for future RNZ announcers and school children.
  
  1 1
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  September 21, 2025 8:33pm
greybeard

With about 10 mins to go North Harbour led Northland by 21 – 19 , and was awarded a penalty close to the posts, for what would have been an almost certain 3 points. That would have extended their lead over Northland to 5, meaning Northland would have to score at least a try to at least draw the game.
But for some reason Harbour declined the kick, went to touch, won the lineout then lost possession.

That was the turning point of the game – a silly, greedy decision backfired .

The strange thing was that the ballboy had already handed the tee to Harbour in order to take the kick, but someone ( Harbour captain ? ) decided on the touchfinder.

It happens time and again and shows how lack of basic strategic thinking influences games.

Too bad, Harbour: maybe you will get your first win next week.
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September 21, 2025 4:50pm
- kiwimike
  
  who’s the Captain ?
  
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  September 21, 2025 11:20pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/360829312/jetstar-denies-fault-passengers-cry-foul-over-scales
I am surprised that Jetstar didn’t charge Mr. Paul extra for himself…
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September 21, 2025 5:00pm

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