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April 23, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 23 April 2026

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General Debate

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Tomtoddy

The racial divide temperature is now rising quickly. We are beginning to pay a high price for trying to turn the nation into two racial classes – one for Māori and one for the rest of us.

Former Te Pāti Māori president Che Wilson, who was also a former Deputy Secretary of the Ministry for the Environment apparently performed a haka at a Kapa Haka event where he insulted members of our Indian community calling them ‘caterpillars’ and making mocking gestures.

It was aimed at the ACT MP, Parmjeet Parmar, who, apparently, sought advice on whether performing haka in Parliament should be a jailable crime – a request that probably should not have been made.

Wilson later backed up his derogatory actions by later stating Parmar should “go home”. It will be interesting to see if Hipkins, who ripped into Shane Jones for his “butter chicken” comments also condemns this latest slur.

We are seeing our country being ripped apart by racists and ‘do-gooders’ who think it’s smart to use Māori words, push the notion of partnership and self-government under the treaty. It is dangerous ground and the tension will only get worse if the media campaign continues to foster it, It is ugly, threatening and can only end in deep trouble. We urgently need leadership that pulls us back together as one people, blind to colour, eliminating all state driven and countenanced division based on race.
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April 23, 2026 8:04am
- Cassandra
  
  This bud should have been nipped long ago. While the Nats tolerance of racism is disappointing, even more so is the silence of Maori leadership: the King Movement and the real King from Tuwharatoa say nothing.
  
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  April 23, 2026 8:30am
  - Jigsaw
    
    ‘….and the real king from Tuwharetoa say nothing.’
    Please explain. Tuwharetoa are indeed doing their level best to take over Taupo – assisted all those years ago by Jim Bolger giving them the lakebed but you statement is still a puzzle.
    
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    April 23, 2026 9:26am
    - Cassandra
      
      Paramount chief Te Heuheu says nothing about Maori racism. I’m puzzled by your puzzle.
      
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      April 23, 2026 4:06pm
  - R
    
    The Maori leadership, such leadership that there is, are fully in support of the racist divide and conqueror AGENDA
    
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    April 23, 2026 9:52am
- David Garrett
  
  Tom: I don’t know about jail, but it should certainly be cause for immediate expulsion from the House for unauthorized haka. This happened quite a lot during my time, and it’s just got worse and worse as successive Speakers have been too chicken to be firm about it.
  
  Morris dancing in the House would be immediately jumped on – why should Maori citizens have different rules applied to them??
  
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  April 23, 2026 8:31am
  - Tomtoddy
    
    Agree, DG. It was the jail bit that was a bit OTT. Definitely disruptive and should be dealt with firmly. Mostly just showing off and trying some intimidation.
    
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    April 23, 2026 8:37am
    - David Garrett
      
      Tom : once or twice during my time a particularly useless and cowardly assistant speaker let waiata drown out proceedings when taking a party vote.
      
      I once had a most unlikely ally in Trevor Mallard: He went into the House and called a point of order to make sure our vote – against Labour – was properly recorded
      
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      April 23, 2026 9:08am
    - mandk
      
      I agree it’s about intimidation.
      
      It’s similar to Moslems congregating to pray outside Christian churches.
      
      Nothing to do with culture or piety. It’s intended to assert dominance.
      
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      April 23, 2026 10:51am
  - Bullion
    
    Maybe if Morris dancing held a modicum of cultural relevance or significance in NZ (most NZers probably have never seen it or even heard of it), it would be permitted in Parliament.
    
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    April 23, 2026 9:12am
    - Countrygirl
      
      Well if we made it compulsory in schools it would soon have relevance. Just like kapa haka and the like.
      
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      April 24, 2026 7:38pm
- Blog-aholic
  
  Worry not the Asian/Indian population will soon (very soon) be larger and growing.
  The sphere of politcal, social and economic influence will drown out ‘maori’.
  Even the self styled speakers for so called ‘maoridom’ have not yet realised the ‘danger’ immigration poses. In my experience xenophobia is common in humans and maori are not exceptions. They even dislike each other!
  
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  April 23, 2026 8:38am
  - BananaLlama
    
    I doubt that.
    The definition of Maori now includes anyone with a single Maori ancestor no matter how far back you have to go.
    and by that definition every native born person in this country will eventually be considered Maori.
    
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    April 23, 2026 1:14pm
    - Paulus
      
      I assume that a so called Maori does not have to prove other than probable lies to physically or otherwise show his or her ancestry.
      Effectively anybody who wants to can call themselves a Maori and go on the Maori roll.
      Some 40 odd years, if I remember, ago there was an advert in an Auckland paper for people wishing to become Maori – cost at the time was $750 which included all sorts of papers proving same.
      True figures I have are only from 2023 showing for example women and girls in New Zealand :-
      68.2% of New Zealand European decent
      17.4% identified as Maori
      17.5% as Asian
      8.6% as Pacific
      1.8% of Middle Eastern, Latin America or African
      Let us extrapolate in similar terms to males.
      And that was 2023
      So what is a Maori now ?
      
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      April 23, 2026 2:52pm
      - ISeeRed
        
        Yep. Most of those “Maori” will also be of “New Zealand European decent”.
        
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        April 24, 2026 1:14am
      - Countrygirl
        
        Descent.
        
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        April 24, 2026 7:39pm
- kowtow
  
  ‘We are seeing our country being ripped apart by racists and ‘do-gooders’ who think it’s smart to use Māori words,’
  
  Deeply embedded and now monumentalised in all new infrastructure.
  
  The new Otago Regional Council office in Dunedin.
  
  ‘The building’s design incorporates cultural elements developed in partnership with mana whenua, with works by Kāi Tahu artists integrated throughout the interior and exterior of the building.
  
  These designs reflect mana whenua values of kaitiakitaka, rakatirataka, manaakitaka and te mana o te wai — expressing care for te taiao, inclusive leadership, and the protection of freshwater and environmental quality for future generations.
  
  Aonui was selected as the name for the building due to its mana and significance in both te ao Māori and Kāi Tahu tradition and was endorsed by kā runaka across the region.’
  
  https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/orc-be-closed-two-days-during-move
  
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  April 23, 2026 8:40am
- Nigel Kearney
  
  Sorry but it’s pointless to accuse Maori party leadership of racism. The existence of their party depends on the assumption that dividing people up by race is acceptable.
  
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  April 23, 2026 8:46am
  - Paulus
    
    But in fact look at the current other widening division, started by Helen Clark and friends and apply it to what we see in terms of so called Maori, and that is the division between Women and Men, which is greater than ever,helped by what is called DEI, and in principle will support whatever Maori want.
    This is of course heavily in the Public Service and the so called media, who by nature now are very coillectively anti Governmment, but in favour of Maori whatever.
    
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    April 23, 2026 2:59pm
- greybeard
  
  Unfortunately when we have a government-approved system of tax concessions for maori organisations ( which themselves were mainly created using taxpayer funds ) then there is an underlying approval for other separatist activities.
  
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  April 23, 2026 8:51am
  - Quail
    
    National and Mr Luxon should be begging ACT to re – introduce their treaty bill immediately.
    One country ,one people and one law!
    
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    April 23, 2026 10:21am
  - igm
    
    Tax and rates for maori enterprises must be addressed, but te reo speaking PM would not be acceptable to this.
    
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    April 23, 2026 10:40am
    - G the giant from Dunedin
      
      When does he speak innate Reo ffs
      
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      April 23, 2026 1:34pm
- R
  
  Activities that are intended to undermine a government are called sedition. We once had sedition legislation in NZ. This was removed about the beginning of this century by a Marxist. I WONDER WHY?. Look at the
  social political outcome now.
  
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  April 23, 2026 9:10am
- Simon
  
  When those 400+ Indians got caught committing immigration fraud it was Parmjeet Parmar who went to assist them. Based on ethnicity of those committing immigration fraud. Nothing else.
  
  Of course Luxon loves Indians, saying the other day that New Zealanders can learn just so much from them. So 400 Indians committing fraud and getting away with it sends a signal to the mugs who obey the law.
  
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  April 23, 2026 9:14am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    anyone thinking Luxon should not have chased this trade deal is a fool. The left laughed and scoffed he couldn’t get it done, he has, anyone thinking a trading nation should not have trade deals is a total fool.
    
    And Parker was a go between when it was found out what they were doing, someone had to ffs
    
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    April 23, 2026 1:36pm
    - Jack5
      
      National got the deal done by agreeing to entry to NZ, and continuing entry, of thousands of young Indians. This while we have a high youth unemployment rate.
      
      National also got the deal done by accepting India blocking NZ’s mainstream dairy products, NZ’s core export.
      
      Before too long, G Giant and the other two National supporters in Dunedin, will wake up to the sell-out.
      
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      April 23, 2026 2:16pm
      - Paulus
        
        Did not under the Labour Government start the Indian FTA ?
        
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        April 23, 2026 3:00pm
      - Jack5
        
        Paulus, our governing Coalition was split, with National and ACT pushing the FTA and NZ First opposed.
        
        Labour could have blocked it but went along.
        
        However, this sell-out FTA is definitely National’s work.
        
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        April 23, 2026 3:28pm
      - Jack5
        
        Evidence National launched the FTA discussions with India in March last year:
        
        https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/nz-india-launch-comprehensive-fta-negotiations
        
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        April 23, 2026 5:07pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Dr Parmar just asked for advice on the range of punishments available to the Privileges committee.
  
  She did not recommend that imprisonment was the penalty needed by the MP haka demonstrators.
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/561601/act-asked-for-advice-on-range-of-punishments-for-te-pati-maori-mps-including-imprisonment
  
  RNZ sure knows how to slant a story.
  
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  April 23, 2026 9:16am
  - MCōs
    
    “ACT did not argue for imprisonment, but we like to keep our options open,”
    Translation
    We’d go along if someone else leads the way.
    
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    April 23, 2026 9:35am
  - Libertarians are right
    
    Yeah, it wasn’t the haka that was explicitly the problem, it was the disruption of Parliament. Calling her racist is basically claiming that Maori have an inherent privilege to be allowed to break the rules.
    
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    April 23, 2026 9:35am
  - Phronesis
    
    All State sanctioned punishments are ultimately backed by an implicit threat of imprisonment for failure to comply.
    
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    April 23, 2026 9:43am
  - R
    
    RNZ journos have comprehension problems!
    
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    April 23, 2026 9:49am
  - peterwn
    
    Parliament has the power to imprison and the courts cannot interfere (refer the UK case of the Sheriff of Middlesex who was imprisoned by Parliament and the court declined to order his release because of the separation of powers). There was a case in NZ years ago where the Privileges Committee seriously considered imprisoning someone and Parliamentary staff prepared a room in the basement as a cell just in case.
    
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    April 23, 2026 10:09am
    - Taieri
      
      Parliament has the power to imprison and the courts cannot interfere
      —————
      
      Isn’t it just for contempt though?
      
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      April 23, 2026 1:17pm
- Raphael
  
  I was at the Microsoft AI Tour in Auckland on Tuesday.
  One of the things they were showcasing in their breakout sessions (Unlock Innovation with AI for Government) was the work done implementing a copilot solutions (called Coco) at Health New Zealand, and the Senior ICT specialist who implemented it has baked Te Ao Maori into the core of the system prompts.
  
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  April 23, 2026 10:12am
  - rouppe
    
    Which would have been seen as essential in order to get even a look in to government.
    
    Not saying it’s right, just pointing out the level to which this country has descended.
    
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    April 23, 2026 12:32pm
- sungsamning
  
  If there is a National led government after the election; New Zealand will have a 12 pounder ball and chain attached to an ankle. If there’s a Labour led government; New Zealand will have an 18 pounder attached to an ankle.
  
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  April 23, 2026 10:57am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Hipkins will refuse to even talk about it
  
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  April 23, 2026 10:59am
Kiwiguy

Just noticed a post from Winston Peters last night. I believe this is his strongest and most definite declaration about who he will or won’t work with at the next election. This provides some comfort to the centre-right bloc I guess, but only if Winnie stays true to his word. Time will tell…

“Four years ago in 2022, a full year before the last election, we ruled out working with the Labour Party.
We did that because the left are full of woke self confessed communists who would turn our country into a basket case.
Nothing has changed. In fact they are even worse. No, we won’t do a deal with Labour or their Marxist and separatist mates.
It is astounding the amount of time this has been spent living rent free in some people’s heads – including media who keep asking the same stupid question that I have already answered multiple times.
Anyone who says anything otherwise is ‘mischief making’ and ‘scaremongering’ who need to start focussing on things that kiwis care about most instead of personal petty rekons.”

Link here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KojsV3Xe7/
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April 23, 2026 8:09am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Don’t be fooled by that, he posted that saying he has always said he was never going with labour for the last 4 years, that is crap, he only ever ruled Labour out with Hipkins as leader, why is he lying about this now? I would say that now Nats are pushing back on his nastiness that people are starting to wake up to the possibility of him going with Labour if Hipkins is wrong, even media are trying to drive a wedge thinking he will choose Labour, apart from yesterday, can you give one scarp of evidence that validates his lie? And don’t repost he post yesterday, it should be very easy to give evidence if it is true what he has said. The threats he delivered to Luxon, the nasty lies about the Indian trade deal all suggests he will not go with the status quo if Hipkins is gone
  
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  April 23, 2026 1:43pm
- sungsamning
  
  Yes, I saw that. I was going to post it tomorrow. Thanks for saving me the trouble.
  
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  April 23, 2026 4:07pm
David Garrett

…and on a lighter note, Thanks to the good Lord (I’m currently in the Kingdom so do Rome does) for air conditioning. Starting a two day trial today…wig and gown used to be unbearable this time of year – 30C outside – but with aircon I Can focus on my job : mainly trapping a glib liar.
Best wushes to you all down in Outer-rower.
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April 23, 2026 8:21am
- MCōs
  
  It’s about 40° this time of year in Bangkok plus extremely humid and polluted from smoke drifting in from illegal burn offs up country.
  Stray dogs die in the street from heat stroke. The smarter ones lie around outside the doors of the 7-Elevens to catch to cool air. Sometimes they lie against the doors to prevent them closing.
  The shop workers, who get paid a pittance aren’t going to risk death by trying to move them on. The dogs know all this.
  
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  April 23, 2026 9:52am
  - David Garrett
    
    MCos: is rabies prevalent up there? 40C !! Fuck that
    
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    April 23, 2026 10:06am
    - MCōs
      
      Yes
      We had a pet dog we couldn’t bring to NZ without a lengthy quarantine in a designated rabies free third country.
      We left him with my stepson and when we went over for a trip a couple of years later he was beside himself with excitement!
      
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      April 23, 2026 10:31am
      - zulumonster
        
        Your stepson or the dog?
        
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        April 23, 2026 10:42am
      - Paulus
        
        One of the only things to commend Winston Peters is I believe, he and his Partner, have is a lovely German Shepherd dog, so at least one person gives him unconditional love.
        
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        April 23, 2026 11:02am
      - Jack5
        
        If you’re going to judge people by the dogs they own, Paulus, how does this affect your rating of Hitler?
        
        A short video (under 3 minutes) of Hitler and his German Shepherd, Blondi:
        
        https://youtu.be/-rX2TicL5eg?si=YrGYHvGIgLCeVFA_
        
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        April 23, 2026 12:08pm
      - David Garrett
        
        Paulus: I don’t think having ” a lovely german shepherd” is at all relevant…a certain Austrian/German political leader from last century also had a lovely German shepherd, called Blondie. Said leader later killed the dog to test the poison he planned to use on his wife.
        
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        April 23, 2026 1:12pm
      - NeverMindTheBollocks
        
        Godwin alert!
        
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        April 23, 2026 1:17pm
      - Swifty
        
        Winston has what looks like a Lab, same as his last dog.
        
        https://x.com/winstonpeters/status/1697468849917141376?s=46
        
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        April 23, 2026 2:25pm
greybeard

This morning Hosking called Hipkins a”prat, a pillock and a prick”: twice !
Lovely stuff. I hope he was listening.
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April 23, 2026 8:31am
- pdm
  
  Many a true word among those 6.
  
  You did say he said them twice.
  
  Most here could add others when speaking of Hipkins.
  
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  April 23, 2026 8:36am
  - G the giant from Dunedin
    
    It was mentioned in the smoko room this morning, i explained what happened and told them he is a tosser, no one disagreed, one of the young fullas said Hipkins is a c…t, i was shocked a young person would say that about a leftie but he did, doesnt sound like anyone had any time for him
    
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    April 23, 2026 11:05am
  - Scooter
    
    Good to see Nicola Willis pull him up on his comment about her health, perfect timing as the media was asking him about it when she passed. He’s a little weasel that the media should be giving him more grief about his obvious lack of respect for women i.e Charlotte Bellis; two travelling women were accused of being prostitutes. His ex wife. He has form.
    
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    April 23, 2026 11:38am
- Simon
  
  Yip. Keep Labour out by voting NZ F or ACT.
  
  Don’t vote for those clowns who rule in the belief that mountains can be people
  
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  April 23, 2026 9:15am
- Jethrod
  
  Hosking’s thinking if you have to go to the BSA, it’s cheaper by the dozen, after Mooney put out a threat.
  
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  April 23, 2026 10:15am
- Hugh Jarse
  
  Well at least Hosking didn’t tell lies about him.
  
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  April 23, 2026 11:41am
KH

Israel has it’s share of nutjobs and more than it’s share amongst the violent settlers.
https://www.southfront.press/in-video-dozens-of-israeli-settlers-storm-southern-syria/
The idea of “Greater Israel” is quite real along with the line “From Israel to the Euphrates”
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April 23, 2026 8:46am
- KH
  
  Correction
  It’s actually “From the NILE to the Euphrates”
  
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  April 23, 2026 1:43pm
  - Cassandra
    
    That’s an extremist opinion held by very few Jews today. Eretz Israel is the old Mandate area. Most (99%) Israelis exclude Jordan.
    
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    April 23, 2026 4:17pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Taxpayers fund Te Matatini – The national Kapa Haka organisation to the tune of $83 Million for the period 2024-2027.

https://www.unesco.org/creativity/en/policy-monitoring-platform/te-matatini-funding-support-regional-development-model

How many more millions will be spent on composing and practising racist haka?

Shame on those who participated and enabled this performance.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/593138/former-te-pati-maori-president-s-haka-targeting-act-mp-parmjeet-parmar-sparks-backlash
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April 23, 2026 9:07am
- Simon
  
  Luxon and National with their huge race based spending
  
  Remember comrades parasitic levels of taxation levied by National to pay for all this.
  
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  April 23, 2026 9:18am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  It may very well give the government the oppotunity to now pull the pin.
  
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  April 23, 2026 11:08am
- Swifty
  
  A ‘nice to have’.
  
  Meanwhile there are ‘must haves’ which have been neglected by our representatives for decades:
  
  https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/593170/the-49-billion-cost-of-fixing-water-infrastructure-woes-laid-bare
  
  $5 Billion a year for the next ten years to get where we need to be. And that’s just for the water network.
  
  Even if we have the will, and the money is found, do we even have the capacity to do all that work in multiple separate locations around the country simultaneously?
  
  Our political system is broken. It rewards politicians who buy electoral success with the funding of ‘nice to haves’ or ‘sounds goods’ and doesn’t punish them for not attending to the basics. The must haves.
  
  And this is at both national and local levels.
  
  I put formal and comprehensive asset management disciplines into (the old) Auckland Council twenty five years ago. That this is still not a core competency, a well-oiled machine, right through both central and local government a quarter of a century later is highly dispiriting.
  
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  April 23, 2026 1:09pm
- DimChappie
  
  Someone please post a link to the racist haka video, many sites have taken it down.
  
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  April 23, 2026 1:25pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    A small portion was shown on TV1 News tonight…
    around 3.00 min into the embedded video clip
    
    https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/04/23/haka-targeting-indian-mp-sparks-backlash/
    
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    April 23, 2026 6:56pm
lastmanstanding

The rise and rise of NZF is no surprise to students of international politics. In the UK Reform is polling number one and ahead of Labour and the Conservatives. In Australia One Nation is levelling pegging with Labor and well ahead of the Lib/Nat Coalition. Voters are turning away from the large Parties who have promised much and delivered little and who have wasted taxpayers taxes on meaningless vanity projects rather than on what matters to taxpayers. Of course many commentators call it populisim and dismiss these voters as shallow and unintelligent. Far from it. They are smart and waking up to the con of Parties who lack the capacity capability and the will to govern in the best interests of ALL the people rather than govern for the minorities. The political landscape is changing and changing fast. Parties that wont change will fail.
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April 23, 2026 9:39am
- MCōs
  
  These populist parties also have the advantage of not having the responsibility of governing a country to test their abilities.
  
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  April 23, 2026 10:01am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    ‘Populist’ parties are returning government to what it was before the wests 70’s socialist experiment was implemented.
    
    Populist policies were the bedrock upon which western democracy was built and flourished.
    
    Their abilities have been tested and proven.
    
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    April 23, 2026 10:59am
  - sungsamning
    
    Last time I looked NZ First; which is populist had a Foreign Minister in Cabinet. I’m pretty sure there are a couple of other NZF members there too.
    
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    April 23, 2026 11:00am
  - NothingLeft
    
    The left, with their modern MP selection practices drawing now almost exclusively from all-talk-no-do activist backgrounds have an absolute talent vacuum when it comes to actual administrative or technical leadership and competence for running countries.
    
    Center-right ‘Populist’ candidates by contrast tend to be ‘do-ers’ that come from far more practical backgrounds in industry where they have become critically worried about incompetence of govt. They will make far better MPs than left wing activists.
    
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    April 23, 2026 11:27am
  - Wairoa Native
    
    NZ First are in government and so are ACT. The word “populist” comes from the Latin populus, meaning “people,” and started being used in politics in the late 1800s. It was originally linked to groups like the People’s Party in the US, which claimed to speak for ordinary people against elites, with similar ideas showing up in movements like the Narodniks in Russia. These days, it’s a more general term for politics that frames things as “the people vs the elites.” Basically democracy, “which is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried” (Winston Churchill).
    
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    April 23, 2026 11:38am
    - MCōs
      
      NZ First are a hardcore populist party
      They are entitled to four members bills in the tin at any one time. They latch onto a the latest big issue, generate a members bill and to squeeze it into the tin chuck out a bill related to yesterday’s big issue.
      
      1 1
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      April 23, 2026 4:30pm
  - Scooter
    
    Maybe it’s time to test them, NZ has forever been in a Labour National loop. Would it be so bad to try a NZ First or Act Govt for 3 years?
    
    9 1
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    April 23, 2026 11:54am
  - Scott
    
    OR – the major parties are all in on deeply unpopular policies that are changing their countries beyond recognition.
    
    I refer of course to mass immigration. Neither Labour nor the Conservatives in Britain will do anything about mass immigration, hence the swing to Reform.
    
    Australia had the Bondi Beach massacre that alarmed the people and prompted the realisation of the dangers of mass immigration and a consequent swing to Pauline Hanson.
    
    That’s the issue.
    
    9 1
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    April 23, 2026 12:00pm
  - Albie
    
    I don’t know about that. NZ First have pulled their weight so far in the coalition, especially in the area of energy.
    
    6 1
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    April 23, 2026 12:01pm
- Ra Henare
  
  I am always amused when commentators rant on about populist parties.
  
  Isnt that the basis of democracy??
  One man one vote and all that.
  
  The person/party who has the most votes (Eg Popular) wins.
  
  Re people being fed up with the historically main parties.
  I well remember in 2016 taking a bet with Americans at my local pub that Trump would get elected. (after he announce candicacy)
  
  My reasoning. People were fed up with career politicians talking the talk and not walking the walk. Be they Democrat or Republican.
  
  PS. I think Trump has lost his marbles, with his ego overcoming his reasoning.
  
  9 6
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  April 23, 2026 11:37am
  - All_on_Red
    
    I think its more likely that you are annoyed that Trump has made it impossible for Iran to nuke Israel…
    
    8 7
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    April 23, 2026 2:02pm
    - Ra Henare
      
      Red. How more wrong can you possibly be.
      
      4 3
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      April 23, 2026 2:25pm
    - virtualmark
      
      When was that ever possible?
      
      1 1
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      April 23, 2026 3:22pm
  - Wairoa Native
    
    Labour was a populist party in 1935 when they became the government under hero of the left Michael Joseph Savage. That’s why my grandparents and later my parents voted for them. I laugh when people like Phil Geoff and Jeffrey Palmer and anyone else get all het up over populists. The problem with labour is they are now the ‘elite’ Their MPs are all academics or professional unionists/politicians like Chris Hipkins for example.
    
    11 0
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    April 23, 2026 2:45pm
    - R
      
      Labour, all academics……no practical people, no people with practical skills and experience, no management experience or skills. And it shows!
      
      4 0
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      April 23, 2026 4:24pm
- rouppe
  
  What policies has NZF published that are intended to improve the productivity, GDP, or wealth of this country?
  
  9 2
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  April 23, 2026 12:35pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    What has that got to do with popularity..ie the basis of my comment.
    I get it you are ANTI Winnie, thats your perogative.
    But your comment does not advance my debateable point.
    
    5 2
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    April 23, 2026 2:27pm
    - Quail
      
      The problem is that the Manifestos of all parties voted in to power tend to go into the trash at the post election negotiations,
      From that time on each elected parties have a lovely “ Get out of jail free card “as they quietly and quickly blame their coalition partners in power.
      It is just another huge failing of MMP,
      No Accountability!
      
      3 0
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      April 23, 2026 3:29pm
    - rouppe
      
      I wasn’t replying to you. What is your problem?
      
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      April 23, 2026 6:32pm
Libertarians are right

The SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Centre) in the US (arguably one of the biggest and most powerful “anti-racist” organisations in the world) are arguing that the money they gave to White Supremacist leaders (including in the KKK) were to informants.

I guess those “informants” were using that money to push “white supremacy” so they would have something to inform on?
9 1
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April 23, 2026 9:39am
- NothingLeft
  
  There’s long been a dearth of actual Nazis, so the left have had to invent some.
  
  Worth appreciating that the SPLC were embedded in the lefts censorship industrial complex over last 10 years, dictating who would be banned from various platforms, lose their jobs and even be debanked in some cases.
  
  They were also core organising influencers behind groops such as BLM and Antifa.
  
  This is what the right is up against. Corrupt to the core destroy-the-village-to-save-it Fabian/Marxist revloutionaries.
  
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  April 23, 2026 6:18pm
Crafty

Of course I’ve no analysis on this but was thinking why don’t we increase GST to 20%, remove all tax on fuel and spend any leftover on paying down debt and/or providing relief for middle/lower income people. GST is the best and most efficient tax (no one can avoid it) we have and I feel like some bold thinking on this tax may be good for NZ. Thoughts? Might be a stupid idea but interested in feedback and thoughts.
7 1
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April 23, 2026 10:35am
- Paulus
  
  A few years ago a top Tax Commitee suggested that one flat tax rate be considered of 22% being the medium tax to balance all..
  It was if course rejected by the Governmment who set up the experts committee.
  
  7 0
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  April 23, 2026 3:15pm
  - Quail
    
    A flat tax was strongly promoted by Labours Roger Douglas .
    Did not pass his colleague’s scrutiny in particular David Lange who insisted on “a cup of tea “.
    The concept though certainly has merit!
    
    4 0
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    April 23, 2026 3:38pm
    - R
      
      Before introducing a ‘flat tax’ into NZ; SOMEHOW we have to impliment a 100% work ethic in the population.
      
      3 0
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      April 23, 2026 4:26pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      certainly has merit
      
      Flat taxes are regressive. If you are OK with the income tax system being less progressive and lowering the tax rate for high earners then of course you will support the idea.
      
      I asked chatgpt which countries have flat tax systems – mainly it is the ex-satellite Eastern European ones. Dunno why. The bot went on to discuss them (quite sensibly) and how they work in practice. Worth a read.
      
      0 5
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      April 23, 2026 4:35pm
  - Crafty
    
    I wonder how much it would bring in compared to the tax take from fuel 🤔. And how it would affect general prices if fuel were to come down that much. I just wish we had some bolder ideas in this country, I feel like we’re just sailing along into mediocrity.
    
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    April 23, 2026 3:51pm
Boy Geoff

Is Marama truly happy at #1 on the Green’s list when she knows full well that in everybody’s heart (including Aotearoa’s media), it’s all Chloe…?
7 3
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April 23, 2026 10:35am
- Nobby2
  
  Boy Geoff, Where is this mythical place “aotearoa” you refer to?
  
  6 1
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  April 23, 2026 1:50pm
  - Paulus
    
    Found behind Utopia !
    
    6 1
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    April 23, 2026 3:16pm
- NothingLeft
  
  Green’s supporter’s racism (and misandry) dictates that it be this way.
  
  1 0
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  April 23, 2026 6:22pm
Maggy Wassilieff

Labour sees sense

https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360969020/labour-support-india-free-trade-agreement
17 3
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April 23, 2026 10:44am
- Boy Geoff
  
  Hmmm, be interesting to see what some of their social media trolls say now, given their recent comments on the deal…
  
  5 1
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  April 23, 2026 10:58am
- G the giant from Dunedin
  
  Not really, Hipkins is still waffling about the fact that helping to get NZ business to invest in India is somehow a huge cost to the tax payer, it has been pointed out at length it is not a compulsory figure, its an aim, its a target. every time Hipkins opens his mouth he sounds more of an idiot by the day
  
  10 2
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  April 23, 2026 11:11am
  - Nobby2
    
    G, every time Hipkins opens his mouth he sounds more of an idiot by the minute.
    
    9 0
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    April 23, 2026 1:53pm
  - Jack5
    
    Ahoy Dunedin giant …
    
    Of New Zealand’s commitment under the FTA to promote investment in India “with the aim to increase private sector investment by $US20 billion ($NZ33.9 billion) over 15 years:”
    
    The poster, G the Dunners Giant, says:“it has been pointed out at length it is not a compulsory figure.
    
    In fact it’s a “commitment”. For more than 200 years this has meant a pledge or a promise; and for more than 150 years it’s meant an obligation.
    
    From NZ’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the investment chapter of the India-NZ free trade agreement:
    
    “The chapter also includes a commitment for New Zealand to promote investment into India with the aim to increase private sector investment by US$20 billion over 15 years.
    
    The italic is mine.
    
    https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/trade/free-trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements-concluded-but-not-in-force/new-zealand-india-free-trade-agreement/key-outcomes
    
    1 0
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    April 23, 2026 7:14pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  Took them long enough.
  
  3 0
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  April 23, 2026 11:37am
- Jack5
  
  Can’t agree with you there, Maggy.
  
  NZ gets virtually nothing except tens of thousands of young Indians while we have high unemployment among our own youth.
  
  Indian dairy farmers have noted that their own dairy industry is protected under the terms of the agreement.
  
  Indian agriculture is improving quickly.
  
  Will hundreds of millions of Hindus eat beef even from NZ?
  
  Still, Peters should be pleased. Where else to put the vote of those sceptical about this FTA deal with India.
  
  7 6
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  April 23, 2026 11:45am
- Scott
  
  Maggy – I’m on the fence on this one. NZ First was concerned among other things about the opening of the floodgates to mass immigration from India to NZ.
  To me that’s a real concern. I don’t know whether it will happen as a result of the bill but I consider it likely. Luxon is a globalist, Hipkins is a globalist. Both parties are addicted to the sugar high of mass immigration.
  
  Right now here in our town many many businesses have been bought by Indian immigrants. Who often employ Indian people. The town is changing demographically.
  NZers are a people that have created a way of life that is the envy of many.
  You change the people, you change the country.
  
  8 5
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  April 23, 2026 12:07pm
  - Ian
    
    I sold my business to an Indian – no non-Indian New Zealander put their hand up to buy it. Hospitality – a too hard row for many Kiwis. That’s why businesses ( mostly cash businesses) get sold to Indians…
    
    5 0
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    April 23, 2026 3:11pm
    - Jack5
      
      Did your business have employees paid around the minimum wage?
      
      1 0
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      April 23, 2026 6:29pm
  - newview
    
    what an idiot comment. 12oo a year and only for three years until they have to return and repeat the process, is hardly opening the flood gates. Why do you think Indians are opening up businesses before NZrs. Because they’re not scared of work thats why. They pool their resources like Maori could do to improve their chances but don’t. You and Jack5 should do some homework on the trade deal instead of spouting BS comments here.
    
    6 3
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    April 23, 2026 4:20pm
    - greybeard
      
      1700 a year, not 1200. But I agree with all of your comments.
      
      0 1
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      April 23, 2026 7:42pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    many many businesses have been bought by Indian immigrants. Who often employ Indian people.
    
    “bought” – so a previous (“kiwi”?) owner sold the businesses. Which bit of that do you have a problem with? If you had a business that you wanted to sell and an Indian chap rocked up with the dosh, would you not sell to him on principle or what?
    
    5 4
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    April 23, 2026 4:29pm
    - Scott
      
      Ian, our demographic profile is being changed drastically by mass immigration. And kiwis are missing out.
      
      I don’t want NZ to become India. And you agree with me.
      
      1 3
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      April 23, 2026 7:26pm
      - Ghost
        
        Forgive Scott, he is channelling Hōne Heke, who is commenting on all the non-Māori folk arriving on the ships and taking over his land.
        
        0 4
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        April 23, 2026 7:43pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        You didn’t answer my question … would you refuse to sell your business to an Indian … ?
        
        1 4
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        April 23, 2026 8:16pm
      - Scott
        
        Ian, of course not.
        But it’s a shame that kiwis are going out of businesses to be bought by foreigners. That’s a shame. We should look after our own people and our own country first.
        Sadly the economy is not going well and it’s hard for ordinary NZers. And we are being replaced by thousands and thousands of foreigners.
        
        1 1
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        April 23, 2026 8:24pm
- Jack5
  
  Labour’s Chris Hipkins wears an Anzac poppy as he announces support of National’s FTA deal with India:
  
  https://youtu.be/eKZ2L34OliU?si=32olLBzB2y29hpz-
  
  3 1
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  April 23, 2026 12:15pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Lest we forget:
    
    https://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/features/soldier-singh-an-indian-anzac
    
    https://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/nsw-stories/indian-anzacs-who-served-aif
    
    4 1
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    April 23, 2026 3:27pm
    - Jack5
      
      If fellow service in WW2 was the criterion, then NZ could extend the Indian migration scheme to East and West Africans, Pakistanis, Sri Lankans, the people of Britain’s former Caribbean colonies, and probably a few others.
      
      Millions of Indians fought on the British Empire side in World War 1, and they, especially the Sikhs, again fought valiantly in World War 2.
      
      We can make an exception for the Indians who went over to the Japanese side during the Burma campaign. Tens of thousands of Indians fought in the army of Subhas Chandra Bose on the side of Japan.
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_National_Army
      
      2 0
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      April 23, 2026 4:00pm
- rouppe
  
  And they didn’t get to rename it the comprehensive and progressive India free trade deal.
  
  Wow!
  
  4 0
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  April 23, 2026 6:38pm
sungsamning

National Party Waterford Representative John McLoughlin addresses locals who’ve gathered in opposition to the construction of a mosque in their area of Ballybeg, Co Waterford. [Well, fancy a council telling fibs. I hope the National Party can use lawfare. In this context a ‘plantation’ is a settlement in a new region or colony.]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEmgoXUNBIY
Mosque Plantation Plans in Waterford – John McLoughlin Addresses Locals.
3 1
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April 23, 2026 10:54am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  “Plantation” is a loaded word in Ireland. The Brits introduced Proddies on that basis.
  
  0 0
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  April 23, 2026 9:59pm
sungsamning

ActBlue employees invoked their Fifth Amendment right at least 146 times in depositions with congressional committees investigating alleged donor fraud on the fundraising platform, according to an explosive report released Monday. [Move along folks. Nothing to see here. Evil ‘white supremacists’ are bullying good honest folk. They’re doing it to the SPLC too. Its ‘raycist’ I tells ya!]
https://nypost.com/2026/04/20/us-news/actblue-employees-took-the-fifth-in-house-depositions-146-times/
ActBlue employees took the Fifth in House depositions 146 times in probe on alleged donor fraud.
4 1
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April 23, 2026 10:54am
Charlotte Wells

In 1964, Lee Kwan Yew, toured Africa and discussed why post-colonial nations failed to advance.

He attributed the post-colonial struggles of many African nations to a lack of national unity, weak institutions, and poor leadership, rather than a lack of natural resources. He observed that many African states became “soft societies” lacking discipline and cohesion, where tribal politics, corruption, and the failure to build a shared national identity hampered development.

The prioritisation of tribal loyalty and personal connections over merit hindered efficiency and innovation.

Leaders often focused on patronage and enriching elites rather than developing the nation. Unlike Singapore, where Lee fought corruption, many African states experienced a “looting” of state resources.

He compared and contrasted Singapores success to Africas failure.

His book ‘Third World to First’ describes Singapores rise and it’s reverse will be the title of how New Zealand went from First World to Third.
13 1
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April 23, 2026 11:06am
- Swifty
  
  I’ve developed an immense respect for that man in recent years.
  
  A man of great character and wisdom.
  
  8 0
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  April 23, 2026 1:31pm
- All_on_Red
  
  ‘The prioritisation of tribal loyalty and personal connections over merit hindered efficiency and innovation.’
  You could be talking about Maori business in NZ…
  
  10 2
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  April 23, 2026 2:03pm
Ra Henare

Re the US adventure in Iran.

I watched an interesting clip which said that the Trump administration wanted to keep the blockade going for some time.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/eAwmYi-nNCk

Gets interesting around 1 minute in.

The reason. To allow Karg Island and other storage to become full, which would cause oil fields to stop pumping with the result that the oilfields become contaminated and unusuable.

Seems that Many Iranian crude grades are “heavy” or “sour.” If this oil sits stagnant in the pipes (the trunk lines) for weeks, paraffin waxes can solidify and block the lines, or corrosive elements can eat through the casing.

Another interesting twist to the whole war story.
IMHO no peace deal allowing oil to flow from Iran will happen any time soon.
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April 23, 2026 11:57am
- Paulus
  
  I understand that ordinary people of Iran have no idea what is going on and the Country in terms of control is divided by the House Speaker Political Wing, and the Tortuous violent pro Muslim wing of the so called Military, who understand that the Gun is mighter than the Words.
  
  3 3
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  April 23, 2026 3:21pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    My serious question is
    How do you understand what you say?
    
    I am wildly guessing you have limited(mainly western media) reports of such things.
    
    I would point to the bombings and killings in Iran would be known by citizens.
    I would point to press? government? releases about what Iran is doing to US/Israel locations in the Middle east.
    
    The internet within Iran still works, its just the international feeds that have been severely limited.
    
    I respectfully suggest that the population being under attack will be discussing the situation daily with friends and neighbors .
    
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    April 23, 2026 5:04pm
rouppe

I’m in Gore today, and went through the Moonshine Museum. This described the distilling activities of Scottish migrants who emigrated from Scotland because of the Highland Clearances and the potato famine.

Anyway, there was a period of Prohibition here. As I was reading the material produced for the vote for Prohibition, its language, and the Temperance Leagues formed to promote it, I was struck with the similarity in language and strategy to the causes the Greens favour. It’s all fear mongering, labeling of opponents as societal degraders, forewarning of the destruction of life and family. There were a number of groups, to which I liken the current ones named [activity] Justice Aotearoa etc.

Quite fascinating. I bought a bottle of whiskey in appreciation.
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April 23, 2026 12:48pm
- Jack5
  
  “Hokonui,” the Southland Scots’ whisky, was being made as late as the 1940s. During the war some country pubs in the south were alleged to dilute scarce Scotch with Southland Hokonui.
  
  Most kids in Southland soon knew that a “worm” was the then-forbidden pipe with enough full turns for distilling.
  
  The last still seized was auctioned off, and a popular local belief was that it was bought by Southland cops.
  
  The name “Hokonui” came from the hill country where the McRaes and other families lived and kept their stills.
  
  They made them hard to find. In one case, a still site was found by police hopping on a family horse, dropping the reins, and letting the horse lead the way.
  
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  April 23, 2026 2:28pm
Swifty

I leave it to resident KB experts to speculate as to how this accident happened:

https://x.com/newzealandboss/status/2047087665024205114?s=46

Driver doesn’t seem too worried though!
2 0
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April 23, 2026 1:28pm
- Prince
  
  Wow those comments ! And these racists live amongst us.
  
  0 0
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  April 23, 2026 4:27pm
Swifty

Boxing – Royal Marines versus US Navy:

https://x.com/bootneckstuff/status/2046968257354113180?s=46
3 0
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April 23, 2026 1:41pm
- Jack5
  
  Wonder why they didn’t box US marines. Perhaps going to the Gulf might have been a priority for them.
  
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  April 23, 2026 2:34pm
Swifty

Olly Robbins has recently been sacked by Starmer over the Mendleson affair.

Here he is giving evidence on the matter.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=biz2hkjlVQA&pp=ugUHEgVlbi1HQg%3D%3D

What an impressive fellow.
1 0
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April 23, 2026 5:38pm
greybeard

I have lost all respect for Peters and Jones.

Peters is simply a narcissistic short man and Jones is a fat blowhard.

Both of them are pathological liars, self-obsessed and totally dishonest.
Both have sucked off the public tit for too long.
Not to mention the probable payoffs.

The country would be so much better-off without them.
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April 23, 2026 7:08pm

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