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February 21, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 21 February 2026

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General Debate

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NeverMindTheBollocks

The rail underpass tunnel on the $70 million cycleway at Petone remains full of water from the recent storm, because a pump failed. Hey ho, that can happen. Good news, cycling bros, you can use the pedestrian underpass that’s just 200m away.

This tunnel forms part of the cycleway that blew its budget by almost three times, working out at $25m per kilometre – about the same as some state highways cost.

Stop and think about the magnitude of these numbers. For that sum, why could the cycleway not have been routed via the existing pedestrian underpass? Sure, cyclists would have had to hop off their bikes and push them through the tunnel, to avoid collisions with pedestrians, but that would be a small price to pay in return for the rest of the cycleway, right? Lowering the cost, meaning the money could have been spent on something else, or not taxed at all?

You can’t tell me that spending money on a dedicated cycling tunnel when there’s a perfectly viable alternative just 200m away was the next best use of taxpayer money.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/587427/sort-it-out-minister-s-frustration-with-flooded-cycleway
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February 21, 2026 8:01am
- Colville
  
  $25mil per Km.
  Get 1000 ratepayers in a group.
  Take one step.
  Collect $25 from each of them.
  Get a different group of 1000 rate payers
  Take a step, collect $25 etc.
  Rince and repeat.
  How long before you run of of untaxed ratepayers? Or before you have a riot on your hands 😁
  
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  February 21, 2026 2:51pm
Chuck Bird

What If the Warming Signal Is Coming From the Sun… Not CO₂?

https://irrationalfear.substack.com/p/what-if-the-warming-signal-is-coming
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February 21, 2026 8:02am
- Cassandra
  
  This doesn’t contribute to the debate, Chuck, in that you’ve got to subscribe to get the data. It’s really just another theory. Plausible and I despair about the settled science approach of Stuff and Al Gore but there’s much more real science needed.
  
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  February 21, 2026 8:35am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    You are right that it is just another theory. There are other scientists, such as Dr Will Happer, Dr Judith Curry and Dr Steven Koonin, who all agree that the science is not settled and there is no climate crisis, although they may disagree with each other on some issues.
    
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    February 21, 2026 8:53am
- peterwn
  
  And there is another issue – the core of the Earth is a pretty hot place and this heat over time ‘conducts’ to the surface of the Earth and then radiates into the atmosphere. About half the heat is from when the Earth was formed and half from decaying radioactive isotopes at the core of the Earth. There is nothing humankind can do to slow down this heat transfer. This heat can be exploited for energy production (or just used as heat) where local geology means it is accessible by simple means (eg Wairakei / Rotorua areas). There are calls for more geothermal energy production but arguably the easy targets have already picked off and untapped potential targets become progressively more expensive to exploit.
  Climate change activists gain power through exploiting the fear of climate change among ordinary people. This is similar to those who exercised power in the middle ages by being able to predict solar eclipses. Some people then thought a solar eclipse would be irreversible although such a fallacy has long since been dispelled. Nevertheless charlatans in years gone by were able to exploit solar eclipses for power and financial gain. There is no such fear nowadays.
  Significant fear has been served up regarding climate change and is hard to dispel meaning that politicians of all shades to recognise this and set policies that pander to this fear for fear of losing votes.
  The practical approach would be to accept that climate change is inevitable and beyond the control of humankind, so efforts should be put into mitigating the effects rather than trying to stop the inevitable.
  
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  February 21, 2026 9:02am
  - Chuck Bird
    
    “Significant fear has been served up regarding climate change and is hard to dispel meaning that politicians of all shades to recognise this and set policies that pander to this fear for fear of losing votes.”
    
    Not Seymour. He has a science degree. He had enough of an open mind to read Dr Koonin’s book, Unsttled.
    
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    February 21, 2026 1:40pm
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    Seriously, your premise is just wrong. Heat from “the core of the earth” is not a factor contributing to climate change. Yes heat does radiate to the surface but it is negligible. IIRC the energy per square metre from the sun averaged across the earth is about 4,000 times higher than the geothermal energy radiating to the surface.
    
    There is something about the topic of climate change that triggers regular commentators here. Yes by all means debate mitigation policy, much of which is stupid or ruinous. But to deny that global mean temperatures are increasing rapidly is insane. Also causes have been well understood for at least 50 years.
    
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    February 21, 2026 1:54pm
    - Graeme Hall
      
      “Also causes have been well understood for at least 50 years.”
      
      Perhaps you read some of Auckland University Professor Duffy’s articles on the subject. He studies atmospheric chemistry and not being subject to funding constraints can present an independent view. There are some interesting overlaps between atmospheric CO2 and water vapour which is a big bugbear to model & an even bigger bugbear to tax.
      
      https://www.researchgate.net/profile/G-Duffy-2
      
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      February 21, 2026 2:04pm
      - Nikola Donatello
        
        It does not matter. Is New Zealand going to withdraw from the UNFCCC?
        
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        February 21, 2026 8:22pm
Simon

Labour are sort of a bellwether for NZ. Since 1988 Labour have only been fit for govt 1999 to 2006. 1993 might have been possible. What means can NZ withstand the punishment of having a Labour govt?

Clearly NZ society couldn’t handle the Ardern govt. The wreckage was plain to see after 6 years. This is how bad of a shape NZ is in. The country can not handle the blows of a Labour govt like it could under Clark.

NZ is finished as a first world country. LatAm style third world is the future.
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February 21, 2026 8:03am
G152

gentle soft oh cleansing rain
For land tis true you are good
But shift yourself and keep us going
Cutting wool not chopping wood
Please let old Sol bake the clay
and dry the sheep out quick
For the cockies gone all grey
And the rouseys are all on tick
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February 21, 2026 8:17am
Dudley Quaffquaff

A glimmer of hope that the US Constitution is not quite dead – let’s enjoy it while we can

Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s sweeping global tariffs https://share.google/QzEcIBMAxJnQ4958j
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February 21, 2026 8:23am
- Charlotte Wells
  
  Calm down, go read the specific post about the tariffs.
  
  The tariffs are still there.
  
  Talking about the Constitution, how many cases has the administration take to the SC and won?
  
  My take on that is they have been working with the constitution all along. It’s others that have been abusing it.
  
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  February 21, 2026 3:39pm
Mod88

It appears Clerk Of The House, David Wilson, has more power than the Speaker. Unilaterally withdrew Parliament from the X Platform, unilaterally decided which Submissions would be counted on the Treaty Principles Bill. We might as well make him Prime Minister and be done with it.
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February 21, 2026 8:31am
- Notsofast
  
  I read on X he used the red herring claim that X allows women to be refashioned in bikinis to make this decision, when 99% of this reimagining occurs on TikTok.
  Between Chris Bishop and Winston expect this classic civil servant to be put in line or better, sacked.
  X is by far the biggest news source in New Zealand and this is blatant gerrymandering by the disgraced left.
  
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  February 21, 2026 3:39pm
CJames

For those wondering whether the LNG decision is any good, Roger Partridge’s column is very good summary of the situation.
https://pointofordernz.wordpress.com/2026/02/20/damned-if-they-do-damned-if-they-dont-the-billion-dollar-bill-for-labours-gas-ban/
It is the best choice of a lot of bad alternatives forced on the government by the Captain’s Call. The consequences of not doing the firming are very serious. History will not be kind to St Jacinda and that call will rank as one of her worst decisions, the multibillion dollar soundbite.
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February 21, 2026 8:34am
- Burtland
  
  surely the Energy Minister during this period should also take-a-bow – thanks Megan Woods
  
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  February 21, 2026 8:44am
  - Paulus
    
    If she took a bow she would probably fall over !
    
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    February 21, 2026 2:03pm
- kowtow
  
  Coal isn’t a “bad” alternative.
  
  It makes an awful lot of sense.
  
  Cheap , local, plentiful , proven.
  
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  February 21, 2026 8:58am
  - Nikola Donatello
    
    No it does not. Emissions would go through the roof. The price of New Zealand Units would also go through the roof. Do you want $4 per litre petrol?
    
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    February 21, 2026 8:24pm
- Master Mariner
  
  Thanks CJ, Good article.
  “History will not be kind to St Jacinda and that call will rank as one of her worst decisions”
  
  Yep, The worst may be still to come, Closing Marsden Pt and squandering Billions during Covid leaving NZ with no financial Wriggle room in times of crisis.
  
  If there is a prolonged war in the Middle East then the next 2 points will become more and more apparent and make the first point seem irrevellent in scale.
  
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  February 21, 2026 8:59am
  - Ian Boag
    
    You do have a thing about how the oil companies who owned the refinery decided it was unprofitable – possibly because it was a bit on the small side? You presumably think gummint should have subsidised its operation?
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:07am
    - Jack5
      
      It wasn’t the size that killed Marsden Point oil, but cheap refining — largely from Singapore.
      
      It was also loss of control to overseas oil companies.
      
      The Australian Government saved two of its refineries with subsidies, but 80 per cent of its oil is imported. Don’t expect Australia to bail out NZ if refined oil supplies to NZ are interrupted.
      
      The Australian Government has agreed to pay up to $A2.3 billion to Ampol and Viva Energy, the respective owners to keep the refineries viable.
      
      Ampol was one of the owners of Marsden Point refinery.
      
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      February 21, 2026 9:31am
    - Master Mariner
      
      You tell me Ian if there is a prolonged war in the ME.
      It was built as a Strategic asset and should never ever been privatised.
      The CEO of Channel infrastructure was picked to deliberately Close it down.
      How many millions could they have made due to high refinery prices world wide. They literally lost hundreds of millions Ian.
      It is a Strategic Asset for times of crisis, Remember it was built during the Oil embargo of the 70’s for NATIONAL SECURITY.
      Whats so F’kn hard to understand !
      
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      February 21, 2026 9:39am
      - Ian Boag
        
        Here is the history … gummint regarded it as a strategic asset when it was built in the 1960’s and the rest of the story can be found here …
        
        https://chatgpt.com/share/6998ef81-c9a8-800d-bf53-2441f9540c13
        
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        February 21, 2026 12:35pm
      - Jack5
        
        You can get the 130-page Fuel Security Study at the link below. Dated 12 February – so less than a fortnight ago.
        
        Comparative courses of action, supply routes, dangers, costs. A comprehensive document, better straight from the horse’s mouth, as they say, rather than pre-digested via AI.
        
        https://www.mbie.govt.nz/dmsdocument/30476-fuel-security-study-pdf
        
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        February 21, 2026 2:59pm
    - mandk
      
      Yes, it was small.
      
      The UK, with 14 times NZ’s population only has four refineries.
      
      According to Wikipedia, there used to be 18.
      
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      February 21, 2026 9:59am
    - AitchW
      
      Small, old technology, worn out, expensive to upgrade. Take your pick.
      I have nothing but contempt for Ardern, Rovpbertson, Hipkins, and Orr, but this was not their doing.
      
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      February 21, 2026 10:23am
  - CJames
    
    I agrre with what I think Ian’s position is. The oil companies knew that the refinery didn’t meet NZs needs and they couldn’t justify the cost to upgrade/ expand it. NZ is not big enough. Even Australia is shutting down its refineries and they have oilfields that can supply what they can need as base stock to refine. We don’t. It wasn’t strategic so why does the government need to be involved. We still need to import either crude or the products of refined crude on ships.
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:16am
    - Master Mariner
      
      CJ, Australia declined shutting down 2 refineries by federal Government pressure due to them being a Strategic Asset.
      There is NO financial incentive to upgrade the refinery much the same as Power companies building new Dams, Transmissions lines.
      This is the role of the Government treating it as a Strategic asset for Energy security.
      Why is the Government paying for a LNG terminal ?
      Same reason, There is NO financial incentive from the Power companies to do so.
      
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      February 21, 2026 9:46am
      - CJames
        
        MM
        I work with a number of ex operators and engineers from Marsden. They did need an upgrade to go with major vessel replacements. They couldn’t make the numbers work without significant government money. Why Gull fuel used to be cheaper. It was cheaper ex Asia than from Marsden.
        
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        February 21, 2026 1:50pm
      - peterwn
        
        Note that Contact has just successfully raised half a billion for new plant, storage, etc. They would have taken into account the availability of gas. If they are assured of the availability of some gas for tail end generation then they can offer cheaper power. If they are not assured of it, they either build extra renewable generation and batteries which would economically cost far more than tail end gas generation. Alternatively they top up as needed on the spot market. This can be risky but Contact has the financial strength to take that risk and they do not complain if they get burnt now and again.
        
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        February 21, 2026 2:12pm
    - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
      
      Except that we and the Australians all blithely assumed that oil is a commodity readily available, and impervious to geopolitics.
      
      Australia is currently scrambling as it realises its energy security is dependent on refineries adjacent to the South China Seas, and all lines will be cut off in the event of conflict between China and the US.
      
      75% of NZ’s fuel comes from Singapore and South Korea, How do you think we will fare in an emergency. Our reserves are notionally 28 days, but that includes tankers on the water.
      
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      February 21, 2026 11:04am
      - CJames
        
        As opposed to our crude coming through Strait of Hormoz? That is more of a risk
        
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        February 21, 2026 1:52pm
  - AitchW
    
    Sadly history is being rewritten as we watch. Ardern is being presented as the love child of Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa.
    Her more unhinged actions (the oil and gas ban being top of that list) are being downplayed as somehow necessary because of Covid or green stuff or “kindness”. (Blech)
    The left will love her forever.
    
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    February 21, 2026 10:21am
    - Paulus
      
      Wasn’t Mandela jailed for some years as a Terrorist beore he became a Saint ?
      
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      February 21, 2026 2:06pm
      - AitchW
        
        And Mother Theresa may not have been quite the saint she was portrayed to be.
        But neither is Ardern!
        
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        February 21, 2026 5:18pm
  - Aquarius
    
    Frankly that is a ridiculous argument
    1. The Marsden point refinery was sub scale and not worthy of upgrading
    2. Virtually all crude processed there was imported
    3. There is very little difference in volume between importing the crude and processing it as opposed to importing the fractions
    In fact arguably the latter may provide greater security
    
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    February 21, 2026 10:54am
- Jack5
  
  Meanwhile, the country ignores the potential of fracking coal-seam gas (CSG) from NZ’s large coal reserves.
  
  Greens have made fracking a horror-fear for New Zealanders, yet the LNG to be imported is likely to come from liquefied CSG from the Queensland coal fields. This is the nearest source for LNG.
  
  Fracking, but mostly from shale, has made the United States once again a leading producer of oil and natural gas.
  
  (NZ more than a century ago produced oil from shale in Southland.)
  
  Fracking — “hydraulic fracturing” — is explained at the following link from Britannica, the AI tool of Encyclopedia Britanicca used to access its own collection of information:
  
  https://www.britannica.com/procon/fracking-debate
  
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  February 21, 2026 9:05am
- peterwn
  
  That is why Jacinda failed as a leader – all feelz and little rational thought.
  
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  February 21, 2026 9:06am
  - pdm
    
    pw I think you mean no rational thought when it came to practical things that would benefit or harm New Zealand and New zealanders.
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:10am
    - peterwn
      
      I nearly said ‘no’ but could not bring myself that far.
      
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      February 21, 2026 9:45am
      - imalwaysright
        
        You would have been on safe ground if you had.
        
        To believe that she or any of her Parliamentary regime could compose a cogent plan, even of the destructive variety they governed over, would be to stretch credulity beyond breaking point.
        
        That begs the question, who did write the legislation?
        
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        February 21, 2026 10:43am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    Let’s not forget she didn’t even know what GDP was, letter in her reign of terror she would simply say I’m not a numbers girl, how childishly pathetic she was
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:43am
  - AitchW
    
    But a huge number of voters, the majority of whom were women, fell for her carefully cultivated persona.
    And the whole country will be paying for that stunt for decades to come. And if Hipkins manages to pull a rabbit from his hat in November and forms a government with the Green and Maori parties we’ll be paying for generations.
    
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    February 21, 2026 5:22pm
- MCōs
  
  When the gas exploration ban came into effect in 2018 the approx 22 existing permits were not effected and were good for 40yrs. However due to poor results they were surrendering over the next three years.
  A point not mentioned in the article above.
  There may be more gas out there, but it’s probably not economical to look for the stuff.
  
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  February 21, 2026 9:12am
  - BananaLlama
    
    MCos i will warn you now, CJ actually knows what he is talking about.
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:16am
  - CJames
    
    They surrendered the permits because they saw no future. If the government closes down exploration and says this is a prelude to shutting down the whole industry, how can future investment be justified?
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:18am
    - MCōs
      
      Did they shut down the industry?
      
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      February 21, 2026 9:33am
      - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
        
        Yes they did, and were proud of it, it got Jacinda a soundbite at the UN, and more of that “leadership” she was and is addicted to.
        
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        February 21, 2026 11:06am
      - CJames
        
        Yes as no one saw that there was any future so how can you justify justify capital expenditure if that money can’t be recouped. They have massive dismantling costs.
        
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        February 21, 2026 12:16pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      The last significant offshore gas find was in 2003. There was significant drilling investment in 2004-2018. Found zip. Zilch,nada of any use.
      
      There could still be some there of course. Surrendering valid offshore permits would indicate that oil companies were not all that hopeful.
      
      The ban on new permits was not all that clever IMHO, but it’s not rocket science to guess that if another Maui had been found in the exisiting permits something would have been worked out.
      
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      February 21, 2026 9:38am
      - CJames
        
        Yet they found gas at Tariki and Turangi since drilling was allowed to resume. Why was that?
        
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        February 21, 2026 7:42pm
      - CJames
        
        To save you looking
        The Turangi gas field, located in onshore Taranaki, New Zealand, is considered one of the country’s major, material, and high-potential fields. It is ranked as the third-largest onshore gas discovery in New Zealand’s history, trailing only the Kapuni and McKee fields.
        Key size and reserve metrics for the Turangi field as of 2024–2025 include:
        Gas Reserves: Estimated to contain approximately 403.26 Petajoules (PJ) of gas.
        Condensate Reserves: Estimated to contain roughly 67.69 PJ of condensate or about 4.8 million barrels.
        Market Impact: The field is highly productive, accounting for roughly 12% of New Zealand’s daily gas output as of late 2024.
        Production Lifecycle: The field is expected to continue production until 2072, with 34.13% of its total reserves recovered as of late 2024.
        Discovery Significance: Recent 2024 and 2025 drilling by operator Greymouth Petroleum has indicated that the field is even more significant than initially thought, with strong new gas flows.
        
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        February 21, 2026 7:45pm
  - virtualmark
    
    One big problem is the geology.
    
    The big majors want to find either:
    1) Oil-rich fields, or
    2) Gas fields that are so big they are economic to turn into LNG for export.
    
    Maui was a #2, but the industry take is that if there was another Maui out there we would have found it by now. If Maui had been found now, instead of in the 1960s, then it would almost certainly be an LNG export field and little of that gas would flow to the domestic market.
    
    The industry view is that NZ then is predominantly small to mid-sized gas fields. These aren’t big enough to economically turn into LNG so the gas needs to go into the local NZ market. And that’s too small to justify the economic risk of exploration.
    
    So the majors have left. And the smaller locals (Greymouth etc) are concentrating on onshore exploration which is much cheaper (ie more in their price bracket) than offshore drilling.
    
    There’s long-standing belief there’s a big gas field off the coast of South Canterbury. Been a bit of exploration but no one has taken up further permits. Rumour is that there is gas but it may be in pockets and not a single large field. So not economic to develop.
    
    There are geological suggestions (ie sketchy seismic type results) that there may be big gas fields to the south of Southland/west of Stewart Island. But that’s hostile water and the cost:benefit of drilling has never stacked up.
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:33am
  - Master Mariner
    
    However due to poor results they were surrendering over the next three years.
    Bullshit.
    Should read “Due to Government instability it is too risky to proceed and spend Hundreds of more millions that can be shut down at the Whim of incoming Governments”.
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:41am
- R
  
  History may not be kind to Ardern, and quite correctly shouldn’t be; but there is at present a large percentage of people who worship Ardern, and pray for the return of her ilk, at the next election. Unfortunately for the future generation of NZers, our MSM are the champions of this cult.
  
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  February 21, 2026 9:18am
  - Albie
    
    We have the ability to see what would result from a Labour Green government after the next election just by observing the decline in Wellington’s fortunes. Why the left supporters and their champions the msm fail to see this I find quite incredulous.
    
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    February 21, 2026 2:58pm
    - AitchW
      
      The vandals responsible for that particular fiasco (one vandal in particular) repeatedly blame the mess on the current government because it ditched the appalling 3 Waters. Oh, and throw in some racism and misogyny for good measure and gullible Labour, Green, and Maori voters believe them.
      
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      February 21, 2026 5:27pm
      - Dougal10
        
        Because as we all know the money to do 3 waters was magic money that just appeared because cindy deemed it . I still cant believe there are people think that nationalising 3 waters in nz is still the answer.
        
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        February 21, 2026 8:26pm
Cassandra

Top story today is the US Supreme Court ruling that the Trump tariffs are unlawful. Tariffs must be authorised by Congress. Seems pretty logical to me. Trump is not the King. He should have worked a bill through Congress like every other proper politician.
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February 21, 2026 8:39am
- CJames
  
  The decision was the right one but “worked a bill through Congress like every other proper politician” doesn’t include any President in last 40 years. Look how many Executive Actions were taken that were later struck down by the Supreme Court. How many of Biden’s have lasted and what was last significant bill Biden got through Congress?
  
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  February 21, 2026 8:53am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    The Court’s ruling explicitly did not affect tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, which are used to protect national security for specific products like steel and aluminum.
    
    My reading of the decision is the blanket tariffs are wrong.
    
    However there is no hindrence to tariffs being applied on a case-by-case basis.
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:14am
  - MCōs
    
    Seeing as you want to start this whataboutism game.
    Neither of Biden’s executive orders that the Supreme Court overturned relating to vaccine mandates and student loans were valid according to Trump if they were signed by autopen.
    Trump issued twice as many executive orders last year as Biden in four years plus he pardoned a motley array of drug dealers, hustlers and thieves (for a price).
    
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    February 21, 2026 9:31am
    - rouppe
      
      Oh, whaddaboutism?
      
      Biden pardoned at least one murderer. In his last week in office.
      
      Somehow included among the tranche of thousands that were supposed to be low level drug offenders.
      
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      February 21, 2026 11:12am
    - CJames
      
      From a news article
      “President Biden signed 162 executive orders during his term in office, several of which were also blocked by federal judges.
      One of his first orders, created by, created a 100 day deportation ban, but that was suspended by a judge in Texas who claimed the order could cause the state imminent and irreparable harm. Six months later, a federal judge in Louisiana granted a preliminary injunction against the Biden administration’s suspension of new oil and gas leases on federal land.
      Biden’s vaccine mandate for federal contractors was blocked by a US District court judge in Georgia. In 2022, a Louisiana judge stopped the Biden administration from lifting Title 42, a public health order aimed at stopping the spread of communicable diseases, but was used to expel migrants at the southern border. The judge ruled the order violated administrative law.
      Two months later, president Biden was told he could not enforce his executive order protecting the LGBTQ community from discrimination in schools and the workplace. Then, in August of 2022, a Texas court ruled against the white house’s requirement for hospitals to provide emergency abortions regardless of a state’s ban on the procedure.
      This past fall, a federal judge in Missouri temporarily blocked the white house’s student debt forgiveness plan. Biden’s executive order shielding undocumented immigrants who are married to U.S. Citizens from deportation, was struck down by a federal judge in Texas. And at the very end of last year, a judge ruled the Biden administration has to stop selling unused border wall materials.”
      Many of the overturned Executive Orders never reached Supreme court.
      
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      February 21, 2026 12:20pm
  - Cassandra
    
    CJ: that’s simply not true. Every president, some better than others eg LBJ, spent much effort on Congress. Trump expects Congress to obey him, he doesn’t do persuasion.
    
    9 3
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    February 21, 2026 9:58am
    - mike
      
      Trump’s just a little bit upset that the supremes won’t endorse his regal authority on every matter.
      
      5 13
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      February 21, 2026 10:45am
      - rouppe
        
        Whereas you get upset when the supreme Court endorses Trump on ANY matter.
        
        3 2
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        February 21, 2026 11:13am
      - Don Beckett
        
        He accepted their decision graciously – surprising but true.
        
        6 4
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        February 21, 2026 11:36am
      - MCōs
        
        Said nobody ever
        
        1 7
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        February 21, 2026 12:39pm
      - mike
        
        He accepted their decision graciously
        
        True, but only if one could consider it gracious to call the six supreme court justices a ‘disgrace to the nation’…
        
        1 2
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        February 21, 2026 5:57pm
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      “He accepted their decision graciously ”
      
      According to the local media he lashed them.
      
      Having watched his speech if that is a lashing I would really hate to see him go ballistic. He would probalby use words like dang, and poot.
      
      3 1
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      February 21, 2026 3:44pm
      - mike
        
        Or make up new pseudowords and force his spokesmorons to pretend they are real.
        
        1 2
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        February 21, 2026 6:03pm
  - CJames
    
    As far as Executive Orders go, Trump has nothing on FDR
    https://ballotpedia.org/Joe_Biden%27s_executive_orders_and_actions
    There is also the issue of military action authorised by Congress – even after the fact. The record of ALL Presidents isn’t good. Then there are treaties and agreements. The Kyoto Protocol never got passed into law.
    Trump’s record of disregarding the second branch of government is not good, but no different to the previous presidents, especially when the House or Senate are controlled by the other side.
    
    4 3
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    February 21, 2026 12:33pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  The SC has ruled that the legislation used was not the right one.
  
  Not that the tariffs were illegal, simply that the legal justification was incorrect.
  
  Tariffs will remain, a rose by any other name etc.
  
  5 2
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  February 21, 2026 9:07am
Yvette

The Treaty – the “4th Article”

The verbal promise, often referred to as a “Maori Customs” (“Ritenga Māori”) declaration, was recorded along the lines of:
“The Governor says that he will protect all religions—English, Wesleyan, Roman, and Māori customs”
(“E mea ana te Kāwana, ko ngā whakapono katoa—o Ingarangi, o ngā Weteriana, o Roma, me ngā tikanga Māori hoki—ka tiakina katoa e ia”)

This was an assurance that the Governor would protect various faiths and also Māori custom. The promise was made verbally during discussions before the signing the Treaty and was not included in the written document.

The Waitangi Tribunal (for what credibility it now has) acknowledges this oral assurance as a contextual element, noting that Māori expected their beliefs and practices to be protected. The “4th Article” is seen as an oral treaty commitment to religious and cultural freedom, recognized by the Waitangi Tribunal as part of the understanding at the time of signing, although not in the official written text.

Just as Winston puts forward “making English an official language”, oral Maori was the Lingua Franca the Treaty dealt with, but who is to say now what was considered understood of the Treaty or not?

However for the above mentioned religious (and customary) beliefs to be honored the Government should surely treat all equally, and favour none at all.
This leaves the question of whether, via the Treaty, Maori religious world view or religious custom has any greater recognition than other religions.

If the Government is to be secular, under what circumstances should karakia accompany motorway ribbon cutting, handling beached whales, or what exactly is taught in New Zealand’s primary schools?

If ACT, rather than resurrecting the Treaty Principles Bill in any form, concentrated on Parliament being truly secular, how much of New Zealand society would change with te Ao o Maori (the Maori religious world view) to be celebrated as fully as Maori wish, but independent of the Sate?

Instead of Maori religious culture being a quasi-State supported religion, let Maori beliefs be celebrated as befitting taonga, under the chieftainship or stewardship of Article 2, but independently as now do the English, Wesleyan, Roman, and a myriad of other religions.
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February 21, 2026 8:39am
- Paulus
  
  I see that Tuhoe are going to start up a Charter School, sorry a Charter Kura, based upon the beliefs of Tuhoe, and their very special and unique relationship to their land.
  It will be entirely based upon their versions of Te Reo, but will in some ways have to include the modern concepts for such a Kura of reading writing and maths – presumably in Te Reo ?
  Fine as it is intended also to include that the land and fauna and all things native to Tuhoe.
  As they say they did not sign the so called Treaty of Waitangi, why did they get serious money in compensation, and are they going to use any of it to found this kura ?
  No bloody likely.
  I am sure that in proceeding with this taxpayers will be paying the lot as being a Chartered Kura which can be construed to fall under our Education system, whereas it is going to continue for Tuhoe to take them back primative pre 1840 to live how they believe they want.
  As long as they do not pay of course.
  
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  February 21, 2026 2:22pm
Swifty

It’s just as well the PSA is not affiliated with the Labour Party, as one KB poster keeps reminding us:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18hBLsWWW7

Heaven knows what they’d be up to if they were.
10 2
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February 21, 2026 8:56am
- KKNZ2025
  
  PSA Union fees structure, ~95000 members. Average public servant income >$100k pa
  
  https://www.psa.org.nz/join-the-psa
  
  Say average union fees $25 fortnight:
  
  25x26x95000 = $61.75M pa
  
  = a lot of influence without direct donations
  
  7 2
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  February 21, 2026 12:42pm
kowtow

Our media making a bigly deal about Andrew being arrested .
They’re even making a news story about how a certain photo was obtained etc etc

Commentators being trotted out to question the constitution (monarchy) itself , comparisons with the Abdication crisis etc.

Starmer and other UK based authoritarians must be delighted as it takes the huge pressure he was under for the anti constitutional coup he attempted in facilitating the cancellation of local elections and his numerous other deplorable anti British decisions he has made and been forced to “U turn on” by the conservative media there , who really are holding power to account.
That’s the real story.And we hear so little of it.
5 3
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February 21, 2026 9:37am
Paulus

Is it only me that I am becoming tired of the media and the attempt to destroy the UK Monarchy.
It was said recently thatn the media have a fetish using the idiot ex Prince Andrew.
So looking it up I see fetish is an intense, often exclusive, fixation or obsession with a specific object, body part, arousal and gratification.
May well sum it up.
Using 0ne person is not new but the media have a total fixation to get their ends.
In the Epstein affair there are many tens of thousands of people involved including on one side other Royalty, Prime Ministers and Presidents, to say nothing of the young, I would say voluntary young women – many now rich.
I was told that prostitution was the oldest business in the world,.
Surely with the creation of the Internet it is said that the Porno business is rich beyond belief, and probably almost the largest business in the world.
This ex Prine Andrew fetish appears to me to be a sad indictment of the media who are only really inerested in selling media.
The British Monarchy is now on its knees and may not be able to get up.
Sad actually.
16 6
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February 21, 2026 10:10am
- Gravelroad
  
  The British Monarchy survived the train wreck that was the Duke of Windsor and his money and status obsessed Missus.
  The former King Edward V111, from what I have read, was a Nazi sympathiser and an admirer of Herr Hitler. A weak man who thought he could broker a deal between Hitler and the UK government to avoid the war.
  The British Monarchy possibly does not have the loyal following it once had, but it will survive in one form or another.
  
  16 3
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  February 21, 2026 10:35am
  - grumpy
    
    Ah. But back then they did not have social media and tabloid journalism!
    
    10 1
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    February 21, 2026 10:45am
    - mike
      
      More controlled in the UK, of course. I believe some French papers, for example, published lurid tales of Queen Victoria and John Brown.
      
      3 4
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      February 21, 2026 10:52am
    - MCōs
      
      The UK most certainly did have tabloid journalism in the years between the World Wars. They had a combined huge readership and were hugely influential for a long time.
      
      4 1
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      February 21, 2026 1:31pm
  - mogg
    
    Andrew MW has joined a central London grooming gang, along with all the other Muslims he is now untouchable, there will be no prosecution.
    
    1 1
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    February 21, 2026 1:05pm
  - Wandering Star
    
    “A weak man who thought he could broker a deal between Hitler and the UK government to avoid the war.”
    
    If you know anything about the history, you’d know that Hitler long sought an alliance with Britain, but was persistently rebuffed. Once the drunken war monger Churchill who was indebted to anti-German interests got into power, WW2 was inevitable.
    
    If the “weak” men who admired Hitler and wanted to reach an accord with Germany had got their way, the British Empire may not have been lost to the Americans and Europe may not be experiencing the demographic disaster which is the subject of another KB post today.
    
    The problem with this assessment is that it runs counter to the favoured myth of the causes and the aftermath of WW2 we have all been exposed to for the last 80 years.
    
    1 12
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    February 21, 2026 1:38pm
    - David Garrett
      
      WS: Your lamentable lack of knowledge about the events prior to WW II is rather boring – particularly the line that the British, and by extension the Dominions – would have benefited from a deal done with Adolf.
      
      So here’s your starter for ten: Name just ONE international pact or agreement that Hitler did NOT breach. ( I know the answer, but let’s see if you do).
      
      6 2
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      February 21, 2026 3:20pm
      - David Garrett
        
        As people who have actually read European 20th century history know, the ONLY agreement Adolf didn’t breach was the “pact of steel” with his fascist mate and inspiration Mussolini.
        
        He breached every other international agreement he signed
        
        6 0
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        February 21, 2026 4:36pm
- mike
  
  In another royal news, the King is reported to be deeply saddened by the death of his brother Andrew in a car crash next Wednesday.
  
  17 7
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  February 21, 2026 10:48am
  - Clyde
    
    It would be ironic if Randy Andy was found dead in a police cell.
    
    3 1
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    February 21, 2026 11:18am
    - Paulus
      
      Hs he actually been charged if so of what real charges ?
      
      2 2
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      February 21, 2026 2:25pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Paulus: No, he hasn’t been charged…yet. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be. And it should be noted that these allegations are entirely separate from the allegations of sexual misconduct.
        
        3 0
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        February 21, 2026 2:43pm
      - CJames
        
        I don’t know how true it is but it was reported that to be officially interviewed at the police station, one has to be arrested. They are also reporting that he has been released.
        Without discussing this case in particular, I wonder how many are arrested, interviewed and no charges are brought? Unless there are relatively few, that would seem like something ripe for police abuse, which they do do.
        
        1 0
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        February 21, 2026 7:53pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Cjames: In short UK law is different from ours. There you can be arrested “on suspicion” as AMW was – and held for questioning without charge for up to 24 hours. At that point they either have to charge or release you.
        
        In NZ the cops have no option – they must either charge you asap after arrest or release you. IMO the UK system is better.
        
        1 0
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        February 21, 2026 9:04pm
      - CJames
        
        Thanks for that explanation DG
        
        2 0
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        February 21, 2026 9:17pm
  - Don Beckett
    
    😆 😆
    
    He must be related to Putin.
    
    3 3
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    February 21, 2026 11:39am
  - Gravelroad
    
    Is that supposed to be a mocking reference to what happened to Princess Diana?
    Tasteless if so.
    
    3 10
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    February 21, 2026 12:01pm
    - Quail
      
      Gr,
      Agree with you,
      Tasteless and inappropriate.
      
      1 6
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      February 21, 2026 12:38pm
      - MCōs
        
        You think that’s loathsome
        https://www.instagram.com/reel/DU-s-jlDkiS/?igsh=MTBsMGVqd3ZkZWhpcA==
        
        0 6
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        February 21, 2026 2:28pm
    - the deity formerly known as nigel6888
      
      Of course it isn’t, its an old Clinton joke – accusers of Bill have a nasty habit of dying – usually by mysterious suicides – like shooting yourself 3 times in the back of the head.
      
      It’s also right up there with “muslims fear backlash from tomorrow’s bombing.”
      
      6 1
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      February 21, 2026 1:51pm
      - mike
        
        No, it’s a joke based on the conspiracy theory that the royal family had Diana murdered.
        
        1 1
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        February 21, 2026 6:55pm
- Ian Boag
  
  tired of the media and the attempt to destroy the UK Monarchy.
  
  Me I’m tired of trying to figure out why we should care. If the UK royal setup fizzled tomorrow, what effect would it have on the day-to-day lives of NZers?
  
  5 2
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  February 21, 2026 3:25pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    Umm – the King of England is the King of NZ?
    
    Charlie & Cams would give Cindy Kiro the old heave-ho, and take up residence in a big house across the road from the Basin Reserve.
    
    0 0
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    February 21, 2026 6:14pm
David Garrett

The Taliban have just passed a law that should surprise no-one with even a passing knowledge of Islam and its poisonous teachings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHCINxwt8hU

In short, a man may hit his wife for any reason so long as there are no broken bones or open wounds. (This a statutory version of Islam’s teaching that a man may beat his wife so long as the stick is no thicker than his thumb)

Women who flee to their parents’ home to escape domestic violence commit an offence – as do her family who shelter her.

Those are just the “highlights”; click onto the link for more such delights.
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February 21, 2026 11:42am
Swifty

Moved to NZ a year ago, two autistic kids, one high needs, right into social housing.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/587482/family-s-chance-for-a-fresh-start-thanks-to-new-social-housing

Lovely. Just lovely.
9 2
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February 21, 2026 1:19pm
- David Garrett
  
  Swifty: Jesus H…how in God’s name did this family gain entry to the country?
  
  But then I am aware of a certain 30 year old Tongan- semi-literate in English at best – no skills to speak of (he works as a stop-go man) who has permanent residency. He brings literally nothing to the country. Oh, and he’s been arrested several times for disorderly behaviour and assaults.
  
  5 1
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  February 21, 2026 2:34pm
- MCōs
  
  Not “right into social housing” at all. That remark would infer he didn’t have to wait a year as even you admit.
  They are being provided with accommodation by the Salvation Army, who presumably can decide for themselves who is most in need of their units.
  If you object to the family being in NZ why don’t you grizzle to Erica Stanford. They arrived on her watch.
  
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  February 21, 2026 2:57pm
  - artemisia
    
    Salvation Army is a Community Housing Provider. Same as Kainga Ora tenants are allocated from the MSD social housing register based on priority and pay income related (heavily subsidised) rent.
    
    4 1
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    February 21, 2026 3:30pm
    - Swifty
      
      There’s a NZ family out there who have now missed out because their house has gone to this family.
      
      7 1
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      February 21, 2026 4:23pm
  - Swifty
    
    To be fair MCos, I did specifically say ‘they’ve been here a year’.
    
    3 1
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    February 21, 2026 4:22pm
    - MCōs
      
      . . . . . and right into social housing
      
      1 1
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      February 21, 2026 6:32pm
      - Swifty
        
        Well, yes.
        
        Why do we allow immigrants that can’t afford to house themselves after a year, or less?
        
        I thought we had rules around what skills we needed and minimum pay before immigration is approved.
        
        Anyway, the key point here is that there’s now a family, quite possibly Maori, who have now missed out on housing because of these spongers. These RECENT arrivals.
        
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        February 21, 2026 7:11pm
Warren Murray

Four days ago I wrote this re Lesley Hoskins of the Teachers Council:

She’s been on ‘agreed leave’ since the allegations surfaced. I presume the taxpayer-funded Teacher’s Council has been paying her to be on gardening leave all this time.

Any self-respecting professional would have resigned 2 minutes after Roche’s report was released. The Herald reports that her husband has ‘stood down’ as a director of his firm, despite his firm, Clemenger, saying it had adhered to proper public procurement processes. But, evidently unlike her husband, Lesley is still holding on, for now. In the same Herald report the TC has started ‘an employment process’.

I see a few mins ago it was reported she has resigned https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360942380/teaching-council-ceo-lesley-hoskin-resigns-after-investigation

No surprise. However, it would be wrong for the TC to abandon the employment process it started.
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February 23, 2026 2:07pm

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