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May 21, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 21 May 2026

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General Debate

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Cassandra

Engineer John Raine: “But fundamental to our future success is a well-educated population. Without this, we can look forward to being a poor and decreasingly relevant Pacific Island nation.”

This is the “cold Fiji” theory. And increasingly it’s coming into being as Indians forsake Nadi for Auckland (and every town in the country which can support a dairy).

But the problem is not Indians, it’s illiteracy. Sanford is doing a terrific job, battling the Labour Party in its teachers union mufti.

We’re producing a workforce (actually a non-workforce) ill equipped for the 21st century,

Where the Nats are making a mistake is thinking that they can win a war by nibbles. You can’t. You’ve got to seize the vital ground and that means the big guns. Vouchers and defining the Principles would be a good start.

I note, for example, that the Treaty principles now include ”protection for trans people”. Seymour’s Bill would have made a contribution. The Willis Reforms will also help, just 18 months late.
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May 21, 2026 8:02am
- artemisia
  
  I think the plan to increase focus on trades will help on the edu front. Young tradie in the fam was bored to sobs at school but that changed dramatically when just one teacher introduced the trades option. One teacher, that’s all it took. And that’s a big school with careers guidance staffers.
  
  Still in his 20s, double trade qualified, one certifying level, the other will be this year. (Certifying means can sign off own and others work.)
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:26am
- Gulag1917
  
  Having worked in an industry which is 60% Indians may I share an experience. Indians are tribal and they will promote their own tribe first regardless of the competency.
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:08am
  - R
    
    Not only Indian ethnic who are tribal.! Very widespread problem for prospective employees. Competency and qualification is not a always top of the list these days, anywhere.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:56am
  - ISeeRed
    
    Yep. At the bakery at my supermarket, the Indian manager calls out non-Indians for their mistakes but never “his own”. It causes a lot of resentment as there’s no point going to HR about this racist dickhead. What really grates is he’s a Fijian Indian and the rest of the Indians are from actual India. But tribal is as tribal does.
    
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    May 21, 2026 1:29pm
- peterwn
  
  “Where the Nats are making a mistake is thinking that they can win a war by nibbles. You can’t.”
  That is opinion, not fact.
  
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  May 21, 2026 1:22pm
  - GJM
    
    It is an opinion – supported by facts. look at NZ over the last 30 years. National is Labour but blue, and rarely does anything significant to undo the move to the left.
    They need to bite the bullet, accept Wellington will always hate them, and sack 2/3 of the paper shufflers in the public service, and demand results and performance.
    
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    May 22, 2026 10:07am
Flossie

Regarding the bill before parliament to define a woman or man ..
“Te Pāti Māori MP Oriini Kaipara said the Māori world didn’t acknowledge differences between men and women.” Quote from Stuff.
I think Helen Clark may beg to differ as she was most definitely defined as a woman on the marae at Waitangi some years ago.
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May 21, 2026 8:03am
- David Garrett
  
  Flossie: That is utter nonsense; there are very strict male and female roles in “the Maori world”…To try and claim otherwise is just nonsense.
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:30am
  - David George
    
    The Maori party’s magic woo-woo machine can just make up stuff to suit.
    
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    May 21, 2026 8:38am
  - pdm
    
    Nonsense DG?
    
    More like utter bullshit.
    
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    May 21, 2026 8:43am
    - David Garrett
      
      Pdm: Well you know me mate…always very moderate.
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:26am
      - Don Beckett
        
        😆 Well done David. 😆
        
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        May 21, 2026 3:16pm
  - Reg Perrin
    
    I always found it strange when working for a Govt agency as a consultant, that when visiting Maraes, I had to sat in the front row, when senior leaders who were Female and Maori sat at the back
    
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    May 21, 2026 8:48am
    - RoboRob
      
      Try going to some events at the MOE, same rules. Men at the front. It’s Marae protocol. They just look at you stunned if you point out your not at a Marae.
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:26am
      - kowtow
        
        To be clear . Are public service types imposing Maori culture ( ie front back seating) in non marae settings?
        
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        May 21, 2026 10:08am
      - RoboRob
        
        @kowtow
        
        100%. One instance was when the boss visited.
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:11am
      - kowtow
        
        Well , that is simply unconstitutional and I’m amazed that anyone in 21st C NZ would put up with that .Indeed that it happens at all.
        
        If NZ is anything it’s meant to be egalitarian .
        
        Where’s all the me too # media mob on this. The Labour Sisterhood mob .etc
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:23am
  - Ian
    
    And that’s why there are tane and wahine…
    
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    May 21, 2026 1:02pm
- Dougal10
  
  Lol she is being told what to say by JT
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:12am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  I wonder why Oriini Kaipara has a moko kauae (chin & lip tat) then?
  
  Something Maori Men do not sport.
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:13am
  - pdm
    
    She sure as hell has not earned it Maggy which used to be the reason for all Moko.
    
    Status symbol or decoration?
    
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    May 21, 2026 11:13am
    - Paulus
      
      Surely it is to say to all, we are superior women !
      
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      May 21, 2026 11:28am
Scott

This ad was pointed out to me by the good folk at Hobsons choice :
Meridian – Platform Manager
https://jobs.smartrecruiters.com/MeridianEnergy1/744000126595531-platform-manager-christchurch-or-wellington-

“Company Description

Mai te hiku ki te taurapa, whitikina e te rā      From the tail of the fish to the tail of the waka, shines the sun     
This whakataukī speaks to our journey across Aotearoa, one waka, one purpose, powered by the natural forces that sustain us. Meridian is Aotearoa’s largest renewable electricity producer, generating energy from the winds of Tāwhirimātea, the waters of Tangaroa, and the warmth of Tama-nui-te-rā.

aha koe i hono mai ai ki a mātou? | Why join us?  
We see energy as mauri the life force that connects people and place. Joining Meridian means contributing to kaitiakitanga, caring for the environment and future generations while empowering communities to flourish.

We’re a team that believes in being in the waka together supporting each other, celebrating our wins, and learning from our challenges. You’ll be encouraged to show tū maia, to be bold, curious, and authentic in your mahi, and to practice rangatiratanga by leading with integrity and purpose, no matter your role.

We embrace diversity and inclusion and ensure that everyone feels like they belong, are welcomed, feel valued, and feel comfortable to bring their whole selves to work.”

This is why we need to get back to Christianity. Because otherwise people and companies will embrace any old nonsense. Here we have new age spirituality and old Maori religion mixed together in some corporate nonsense.

And Maori buzz words chucked in just to signal the company’s virtue.

When you believe in nothing then you’ll fall for anything. Meridian is working hard to position themselves as the wokest company in the world. No wonder our country is declining.

Maybe the good folk at Meridian could attend church that one hour a week on Sundays and not feel they have to impose pagan spirituality on their employees for the entire working week?
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May 21, 2026 8:05am
- Flossie
  
  All I can say to that is oh FFS!!! And I’m not generally a user of profanities.
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:36am
- alex Masterley
  
  Dear God, what unintelligible word soup.
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:36am
- David Garrett
  
  Scott: A great post – until you mentioned going to church. Can you not understand that many of us feel that religion is mumbo jumbo just as that ad – and similar writings – is?
  
  You remind us constantly that you are Christian; that’s fine, whatever you choose to believe. But don’t expect the rest of us to become followers of your God.
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:39am
  - Scott
    
    But David. That’s where we differ. With the slump in support for Christianity in NZ we don’t actually have a rise in the “reason” based people that agnostics would like to see.
    
    What we have is the rise of other religions to take the place vacated by Christianity. And this ad by a NZ company is an excellent example. Air NZ has gone down exactly the same path.
    
    Face it. The people will have a religion.
    
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    May 21, 2026 8:45am
    - David Garrett
      
      Some people will choose to have a religion…more and more people -like me – will tick the “no religion” box. As you say, Face it.
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:29am
      - Debsta
        
        DG I am non-religious like you, but it does appear that Scott may be right relating recent trends to the old saw “Nature abhors a vacuum”?
        
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        May 21, 2026 4:17pm
    - mandk
      
      The decline in Christianity will not be matched by growth in enlightened agnosticism or atheism.
      
      It will leave a void that will be filled by paganism or, worse, Islam.
      
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      May 21, 2026 10:33am
      - Taieri
        
        It will leave a void that will be filled by paganism or, worse, Islam
        ————-
        
        Climate religion, “trans are women” religion, “racism” religion and all sorts of other similar “religions” seem to be far more attractive. To some anyway…
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:15am
    - Ra Henare
      
      Scott.
      Humans are tribal.
      
      That includes religions. ie Religion becomes your tribe. DRill down and your church, mosque, pagoda, becomes your specific subtribe.
      
      Agnostics also have a tribe. Its the tribe of no specified religion. Usually said with a hint of superiority. 🙂
      
      A tribe never the less IMHO.
      
      So
      The Maorification Woke tribe,
      The christianity tribe,
      The Muslim Tribe
      The Hindu Tribe
      The agnostic tribe.
      
      All give people a sense of belonging/identity.
      
      I belong to the old bald curmudgeon tribe
      
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      May 21, 2026 3:06pm
      - Jack5
        
        Don’t forget the Kiwiblog tribe!
        
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        May 21, 2026 10:17pm
  - pdm
    
    Each to his own though DG.
    
    Free speech and all that plus if he wants to promote church there are always some who may become better people if they attended now and again.
    
    Just as some may become better people if they visit a Marae occasionally.
    
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    May 21, 2026 8:46am
    - Paulus
      
      By not attending a Church does not stop people from applying common sense Church base Principals.
      Then there is the native Maori here wh0 have their own religion, when it suits them called Tikanga I believe.
      
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      May 21, 2026 11:32am
  - Flossie
    
    Absolutely DG. Was going to comment on that point myself.
    
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    May 21, 2026 8:47am
  - Nukuleka
    
    DG. What you don’t acknowledge in your relentless pursuit of a godless New Zealand is that mankind will always seek for some kind of spiritual meaning in life. Rid our country of its Christian principles and Islam in particular is keen to fill the void. To deny this reality is bone headedness of the first degree.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:02am
    - Cassandra
      
      Bit harsh, Nuku. Religion engenders robust views.
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:05am
    - Nikola Donatello
      
      Really? How many New Zealanders could name these Christian principles? How many New Zealanders are practicing Christians? Pressuring people to embrace Christian principles is as objectionable as pressuring them to embrace Maori mysticism. I say this to you as a practicing catholic. I would never dream of applying my catholic beliefs at work or evangelising to my secular friends.
      
      You know what I try to apply at work? Reason. Then some Muppet asks me to do a karakia.
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:11am
      - pdm
        
        ND you may well know my good friend of over 60 years Cardinal John Dew.
        
        Not once in all the time I have known him, including many visits to his home as teenagers, has religion ever arisen.
        
        In fact I think the most in depth discussion we have ever had on the matter was at dinner in Wellington a few years ago was when I questioned him a little on his role as a Cardinal.
        
        He also recently enlightened, mrspdm, myself and a couple of other non catholic friends in very general terms on his experience within the Papal Conclave last year.
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:21am
      - Ra Henare
        
        Niko
        
        You presume that your “”principles”” are a product of Christianity.
        
        Suggest some research will debunk that myth.
        Checkout Ancient Eygpt, Mesopatamia, China, India
        
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        May 21, 2026 3:14pm
    - David Garrett
      
      Nuku: I am not “relentlessly pursuing a godless New Zealand.” People can belive whatever they wantt to believe as far as I am concerned.
      
      But I should not have to be constantly urged to “find God” myself.
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:37am
      - David Garrett
        
        Apologies for the typos in my above comment…made on my phone, and I didn’t have my glasses with me.
        
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        May 21, 2026 10:48am
    - R
      
      The original reason for the christian religions was to teach the illiterate how to ‘live together’. The mainstream church’s became political, and lost their flocks. Hence the social community mess we now have.
      
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      May 21, 2026 10:02am
      - mandk
        
        No, it wasn’t.
        
        It was to teach people to live according to the Gospel, not simply to be nice to one another.
        
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        May 21, 2026 10:37am
      - Taieri
        
        The original reason for the christian religions was to teach the illiterate how to ‘live together’.
        ————-
        
        You’re right. But not just Christian religions, all religions have the same purpose and reason for existing.It is/was a way to explain the surrounding world, to give a meaning to life and to organise the society, so that we don’t kill one another.
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:22am
      - Bloody Dago
        
        Heard a rumor on the grapevine that conversions to Christianity by the Chinese populace are phenomenal in recent times. They are doing this to get something between them and the CCP. Anyone else heard of this happening?
        
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        May 21, 2026 8:48pm
  - Philview
    
    “Mumbo Jumbo” That choice of words in a different context can have consequences in New Zealand!
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:25am
    - Paulus
      
      What is the Maori translation of Mumbo Jumbo please ?
      
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      May 21, 2026 1:33pm
      - KH
        
        Tikanga
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:15pm
  - Ghost
    
    yeah, but some people like to push their religious beliefs on to others then cry that other religions are doing it. It’s more about their insecurities than anything
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:30am
    - Fender
      
      Bit harsh, our society is still very structured around christianity, and it’s hardly worse for it so to call it insecurity is harsh
      My lawyer still pulls out a bible to sign forms
      Im not christian but I understand the meaning of the book in this instance and respect it as a sign without grumbling about it. At least it has historical significance which all can understand and the 10 commandments are not far off being the bedrock of any society, doubt you could write better ones.
      Scott is not really being a nuisance in my eyes and I don’t understand what is so triggering.
      Its a lot better than the options that will fill the void
      
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      May 21, 2026 1:03pm
      - Ghost
        
        Someone who feels the need to push their religious belief onto others, especially on a political blog is insecure. His insecurities also show in his inability to accept others beliefs as being inferior to his own
        
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        May 21, 2026 1:16pm
      - Jack5
        
        A religious revival seems to be occurring among young activists on the Right.
        
        Like this young activist singer on YouTube, who belts out militant Christian songs as well as military ballads.
        
        https://youtu.be/S5AOXACm1EA?si=kXjb6Glw3ZR3s0aG
        
        And this is how Right-wing activists “recruited” her:
        
        https://youtu.be/K6da1rF6zcU?si=gjrnP_-KA19ZQH3m
        
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        May 21, 2026 10:26pm
  - Gary Benner
    
    David, I think it is important to note that being called a “Christian Country” does not necessarily mean we are all bible card carrying members of a church attending service every Sunday, with a specific belief about who or what God is.
    
    It is more that our standards and laws as a society are rooted in the Judeo-Christian ethic, about how we treat people, and I guess is essentially based on the Ten Commandments.
    
    This does set us apart from Islamic, Hindu countries etc, and puts us in a group with fairly similar standards of society.
    
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    May 21, 2026 1:23pm
  - ISeeRed
    
    @David Garrett, I’m atheist* but I recognise we could pretty much only be non-believers in a predominantly Christian country or countries with a dominant Christian history. Something to think about.
    
    *For the more hardcore Christians, “a-” = without, “theism” = belief in the existence of God or gods. It means no more than that. Not “anti-God” or “hates Jesus” or “Satan worshipper”. You’re all just as atheistic as me when it comes to Ra, Odin, Quetzalcoatl, Ranginui etc. Something to think about.
    
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    May 21, 2026 1:37pm
  - mogg
    
    Where does he say that you should become a follower of ‘his god’. Are you just one of the permanently offended?
    
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    May 21, 2026 2:29pm
- wsk12345
  
  I looked at a different job at Meridian recently. Same crap. Decided it wasn’t somewhere I was interested in working.
  
  And that’s how the downward spiral starts – when good people decline to work for these companies but the Maori and DEI focussed sycophants lap it up … and staff who don’t want to deal with this walk away….
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:42am
  - Burtland
    
    there are two types of these sycophants – the believers and those that pretend to believe
    
    corporates built on staff with a zealot culture and a large remainder with cognitive dissonance are a disaster – its evident in most councils
    
    Now its being embedded into our largest energy companies
    
    DEI rot spreads – it comes from the top
    
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    May 21, 2026 10:22am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  The job ad from Meridian is appalling. I cannot imagine any thinking person would apply.
  
  However I disagree with the second part of your comment. Meridian and its employees should not be displaying any religious beliefs. And no, those executives should not be encouraged by anyone to embrace Christianity in order to do their jobs better.
  
  I say this as a catholic who attends Mass twice a week.
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:05am
  - rouppe
    
    Ah, this changes things.
    
    I know what you’re going to say, career ending and all that but bear with me…
    
    Next time you’re asked for a karakia, say a Christian prayer. Later, when you’re “spoken to” you can say
    
    * I also have mana, as found in the Peter Ellis case, and your criticism diminishes it.
    * my beliefs are Christian, and to object to my saying a prayer after being asked to do one is discrimination on a protected ground.
    
    You’ve said you’re looking for another job anyway, it would take them years to tip toe around employment law for the reasons above, and the public visibility of the exercise would be of significant embarrassment to them.
    
    Best case they just stop asking you to do karakia.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:50am
    - Nikola Donatello
      
      No I am not going to say a Christian prayer at work. I would rather rote learn the Maori prayer and look for another job.
      
      Even better, the government could amend the public service Act to prohibit religion and Mysticism.. There would be no karakia by public servants ever. Maori visitors to public service agencies would be free to do so.
      
      Just another serious disappointment about the National Party. It would have been so damn easy and the vast majority of public servants, a silent majority, would be thrilled.
      
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      May 21, 2026 11:01am
      - rouppe
        
        Fair enough.
        
        I’ll not mention it again.
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:30am
      - Paulus
        
        Are not the proponents of the Public Service karakia all middle aged overweight women, who can screech the loudest, and God help you if you do not attend, I am told.
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:36am
  - Scott
    
    Nikola – that’s the difference between evangelical Christians and Catholics. We are quite happy to evangelise.
    Having said that I’m very content if Meridian could just advertise for a Platforms Manager without any reference to religious beliefs. I wouldn’t dream of making a commitment to the 10 commandments a factor in a job selection process.
    
    Just, can they do the job, should be the critical factor in the recruitment process. I think we can all agree on that. 😎
    
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    May 21, 2026 10:08am
    - David Garrett
      
      Scott: “Evangelise”…a word meaning “Trying to convince people that your religious beliefs are the right ones”
      
      And your self description as an “Evangelical Christian” explains a lot.
      
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      May 21, 2026 10:52am
      - Scott
        
        David, evangelical Christians emphasise “go out into all the world and make disciples” which I’m sure someone important said somewhere? 😊
        
        Whereas catholics tend to have other priorities in living out their faith.
        
        This from Wikipedia explains us quite well I think –
        
        “Evangelical» is a broad movement within Protestant Christianity that emphasizes the authority of the Bible, personal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, and the importance of spreading the gospel. It comes from the Greek word euangelion, meaning “good news”.
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:22am
      - Taieri
        
        And your self description as an “Evangelical Christian” explains a lot.
        ————-
        
        It does indeed.
        
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        May 21, 2026 11:23am
- Dougal10
  
  They not only got a consent for the 180 million they paid to The Tribe they also managed to get HR help as well.
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:16am
- Michael Sommerville
  
  I have noticed Meridian’s drift in this direction for some time. It is also heavily into renewables and I believe are about to open a new solar farm in Palmerston North area. They won’t do coal or gas.
  
  There are many economists who have done the numbers and because of the limited life of wind and solar, these are actually expensive sources of electricity as wind turbine blades have a life expectancy of 15-20 years. Solar panels have a similar lifespan.
  
  Very are woke and there is no way I would have them as my supplier.
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:25am
  - Burtland
    
    Meridian was set up by Keith Turner with all NZs power generation jewels – he then put himself in charge of it – the king and his realm
    
    at one point they made so much mular they gave all staff a big bonus to get rid of it
    
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    May 21, 2026 10:32am
- Northshoredoc
  
  Religion should never be included in a job advertisement or description unless it is for a specific religious position.
  
  I agree that the first four paragraphs are nonsense, however, they are no more than lazy cut and paste that Meridian likely includes in all their jobs.
  
  Save me Tom Cruise!
  
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  May 21, 2026 6:05pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

Apropos of public sector layoffs , I do hope that managers do their jobs and pick the people to go. Voluntary redundancies just sees the good people leave. Managers should know who’s needed, and who’s best placed to swim in the new pool.
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May 21, 2026 8:05am
- HalfFull
  
  Umm ‘should’ do you really trust these so called ‘managers’ to pick the right people to lay off. I don’t.
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:44am
  - Ian Boag
    
    So who would you trust? Maybe an open poll of KB posters? 🙂
    
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    May 21, 2026 8:58am
    - HalfFull
      
      Easy. A receiver/liquidator
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:13am
      - Groggy
        
        And coming in cold how would they know which staff to keep? By referring to the performance reviews prepared by … the Manager
        
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        May 21, 2026 1:16pm
    - rouppe
      
      The minister sets the expectation with the CEO on the job types and that they expect a report on who and why before executing. This includes no voluntary redundancies.
      
      And also that their continued stay as ceo depends on it.
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:53am
  - greybeard
    
    Agreed: I suspect that most of the public service drones have become managers and then cause most of the inefficiencies.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:23am
  - Burtland
    
    the DEIs will retain the DEIs
    
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    May 21, 2026 10:35am
- crash
  
  The reality is that civil service CEOs are generally well-versed in skirting around directives they don’t like and reducing headcount is definitely right up there.
  
  I hope that all the Ministers are well-schooled on how to counter this and achieve the headcount reduction goals with scrutiny of adherence to targets designed to achieve minimum reduction in output.
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:56am
  - Peter S
    
    One thing that has the potential to be a genius move in the current round of reductions (if leveraged property) is linking it with combining and reducing the number of agencies.
    
    It means fewer CEO roles available for starters.
    Then a quiet word with each CEO that the way the Minister’s instructions are implemented is going to have a direct impact on which agency is either retained and enlarged or dissolved and dispersed, to create competition between CEOs and between agencies.
    
    It would take a brave (or stupid) CEO to risk non compliance in that environment..
    
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    May 21, 2026 12:56pm
- Paulus
  
  In local Councils over the years those taking voluntary redundencies came back as Sub Contractors to do the same jobs, but at much more Tauranga Ratepayers money.
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:24am
- Charlotte Wells
  
  Your advice is irrelevent.
  
  Layoff aren’t due to start until after the election, and only if National win said election.
  
  I am also of the view that promises by National are as trustworthy as those from Winston.
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:48am
  - pdm
    
    Charlotte you make a point in your last sentence which has been very much confirmed since November 2023.
    
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    May 21, 2026 11:27am
  - Bobba Fret
    
    All the public servants will be voting for Labour then hoping they get in and then there will be no redundancies. In fact, they already probably vote Labour anyway.
    
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    May 21, 2026 1:00pm
- R
  
  In many cases, it would be the managers, already promoted beyond their level of competence, who should be replaced
  
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  May 21, 2026 10:09am
- Handyman
  
  The civil servants have flooded the media with jobs they claim cannot be done by AI or robots.
  Similar claims were made in the 1970’s when computers threatened clerical jobs. The classic example is that typing pools thought modernisation meant they would learn to use word processors instead of typewriters and life would carry on as usual.
  “Don’t automate a bad process: Obliterate!”.
  
  It can be done. A real example:
  
  When I went to the GP last week the conversation was heard by the AI in the doctor’s computer. In real time it recorded the consult notes and recommended a course of action, knowing all my history at the GP, hospital and pharmacy. (It probably knew my family history as well). The doctor cast an eye over the AI output before accepting the recommendation, by clicking rather than typing anew. A text arrived from the pharmacy in time to pick up the pills on my way home.
  
  Now imagine a citizen going into a government shop, sitting with a General Purpose (GP) consultant, who would steer the conversation with AI listening. All the correct entitlements could be displayed, and banking authorised on the spot. AI would have access to all the person’s history across all Government and banking systems and know all the relevant regulations. AI would show all its logic allowing citizens to get a “second opinion” based on fact.
  
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  May 21, 2026 10:21am
  - Burtland
    
    government AI is going to be driven by DEI managers – we know what that will bring
    
    AI has the potential to hack and absorb everything on the internet
    
    it could also be directed to prescribe you the wrong pills because you voice the an opinion it doesnt like on a website comment – no one will be anonymous in the AI world
    
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    May 21, 2026 11:03am
    - Raphael
      
      It already is driven by DEI. At the Microsoft AI Tour in Auckland on 21 April, one of the Sessions included a chat from the chap at HealthNZ who is implementing their “co-pilot” that will be used throughout, named “Coco”
      
      It has Te Ao Maori baked into the system prompts, pushing a Maori cultural worldview onto all interactions.
      
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      May 21, 2026 12:33pm
- kowtow
  
  The police are doing their bit , picking huge numbers of prison officers.
  
  Extraordinary that what must amount to an almost unprecedented level of arrests of prison officers gets relegated to the inside pages of the Herald .
  
  Nothing to see here , move along please.
  
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  May 21, 2026 11:04am
  - Taieri
    
    The police are doing their bit , picking huge numbers of prison officers.
    ————
    
    What should be added is that they are employed by Serco, a private contractor.
    
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    May 21, 2026 11:27am
    - OlderChas
      
      I got the impression that 8 or so have been arrested from Corrections staff at Mt Eden. Also some from another place run by Serco.
      Got annoyed at the TV pics and video old the old Victorian prison in Mt Eden. Has been no on in there since 2011.
      
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      May 21, 2026 11:53am
    - Paulus
      
      Not all employed by SERCO – some I understand !
      
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      May 21, 2026 1:36pm
- nz_aj
  
  I hope not, as I’d suspect the higher up the management chain, the worse it gets. Just fire every 2nd wellington back office employee randomly, and let the rest sort it out.
  AI should already be doing much of their work
  
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  May 21, 2026 12:17pm
- Bobba Fret
  
  You may find it is some of the managers that should go.
  
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  May 21, 2026 12:57pm
- Bullion
  
  Don’t worry, the good ones will take voluntary redundancy and then just be hired as contractors or consultants to do the same job at higher cost.
  
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  May 21, 2026 1:25pm
artemisia

Pharmac proposes removing priority access of type 2 diabetes meds for Maori, Pacific

Pharmac’s expert advisors say expanding clinical eligibility would mean most (part) Maori and Pacific peoples with type 2 diabetes would meet the proposed criteria, that clinical criteria were an effective way to determine who has high health need, and that many thousands more will benefit from the proposals.

Priority based on need or genes?

Mr Seymour says ‘need not race’.

Graham King, a board member for Diabetes Foundation Aotearoa says genes – “A lot of people think that because you eat bad food and you’re fat, you’re going to be a diabetic, but type 2 is all about the gene pool, right… and a complication of that gene pool is if you do become obese and stuff, there’s a good chance that you’re going to end up a diabetic.”

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/595851/pharmac-proposes-removing-priority-access-of-type-2-diabetes-meds-for-maori-pacific
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May 21, 2026 8:15am
- imalwaysright
  
  If diabetes in Maori is genetic then it should be reducing as their gene pool dilutes.
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:28am
  - wsk12345
    
    And strangely the Maori who “live like Pakeha” lose the gene?!
    
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    May 21, 2026 8:45am
- nova
  
  If the argument is based on genetics, then why give someone who is 1/32 Maori the same priority as 1/4 Maori?
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:48am
  - pdm
    
    Nova – when I was growing up in a Maori Community in the 1950’s and then on through High School in the early 60’s there was a phrase used by both Maori and non Maori.
    
    Half caste – it is never heard these days and when I think about it rarely heard since perhaps the mid 70’s.
    
    Sometimes even quarter caste was used both of which basically cover your last sentence.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:17am
    - David Garrett
      
      Pdm: Indeed…Up here in the Kingdom children like mine are known as half-half’s. It is not a derogatory term – quite the opposite in fact
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:46am
  - artemisia
    
    Not sure we could call Mr KIng’s statement an argument.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:39am
lastmanstanding

If the Nats are smart they will suggest what Labours Future Fund will look like. This is a golden opportunity to fill the vacumn. Just throw out some real scary ideas to fighten fringe Labour voters hopefully to abstain at the election.
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May 21, 2026 8:29am
- Dougal10
  
  In the form of comedy would be catchy , like billy t or fred dagg style.
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:22am
- Sponge
  
  Dancing Cossacks 2.0?
  
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  May 21, 2026 1:02pm
  - Bullion
    
    That cost us massively, it’s basically kiwisaver – employer contributions of 4% matched by 4% from employees.
    
    Analysis from Dec 2025:
    
    Fisher Funds chief executive Simon Power asked his team to run the numbers to find out how much our combined savings would be worth if that 4+4 system was allowed to grow and compound over the last 50 years.
    
    “Their high-level estimate, allowing for withdrawals after 40 years, was in the ballpark of $750 billion,” says Power.
    
    Which is over $600 billion more than Kiwisaver.
    
    A decent chunk of that money would have gone into other assets, most notably property, but the loss of the compulsory savings has directly contributed to how dependent our retirees are on superannuation.
    
    As Kernel Wealth’s Anderson explains: “ We can’t afford to be swayed by short-termism or politically driven fearmongering. We all need to be informed and think about how today’s decisions will compound over the next 20, 30 or even 50 years.
    
    “New Zealand cannot afford another Muldoon-sized mistake.”
    
    https://www.stuff.co.nz/money/360910303/enormous-bribe-50-years-ago-cost-new-zealand-625-billion-and-price-we-will-pay-decades
    
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    May 21, 2026 1:19pm
lastmanstanding

The new education standards are Back to the Future. In 1968 I sat School Certificate at Form 5 now year 11. It consisted of 5 subjects with English complusory. You had to get over 200 marks in the best four subjects to advance to Form 6 where you sat University Entrance. This could be accredited if you past the internal exams at your school. Same rules 5 subjects at least 200 marks in the best 4. Then Form 7 now year 13 where you did Scholarship.
So Governments have spent the past 50 plus years to get back to the tried and proven system. Better late than never.
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May 21, 2026 8:35am
- Cassandra
  
  From FG: passed. From Cass: the problem with SC was scaling – 50% had to fail. Not a good scheme.
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:50am
  - Ian Boag
    
    This was done so that differences in the exam – this year harder or easier – generated about the same pass levels from the population. The alternative would be to suggest that this year’s students are a whole lot brighter/dumber than last years …. relatively unlikely.
    
    50% was the chosen level but it could equally have been 70% or 30% ….
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:02am
  - Cassandra
    
    Of course I meant DG.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:07am
  - Dougal10
    
    They still scale the ncea external exams to fit a pass rate.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:24am
    - Ian Boag
      
      If this year’s results are significantly different to last year it means either
      
      (a) the exam standard was different or
      
      (b) there is a significant difference in the ability of this year’s whole cohort relative to last year’s cohort
      
      (b) seems pretty unlikely. So if we want this year’s results to look like last year’s (distribution-wise and all that – % of A,B,C etc) they get scaled.
      
      If 50% represents a “pass” then it will be done based on the scaled numbers, so the % that “pass” will be pretty much the same every year …
      
      Whatever …. some parts of the world don’t have “national certificates” and get by just fine.
      
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      May 21, 2026 10:30am
- David Garrett
  
  lastman: “This could be accredited if you past the internal exams at your school.”
  
  Wrong passed mate…The past is when you sat School C almost sixty years ago. But back then you passed School C. The two words have completely different meanings. “Passed” is the past participle of the verb to pass
  
  Yes, I know I am a usage Nazi…
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:50am
  - [email protected]
    
    I hold my tongue when I see so many misspellings on Kiwiblog. Things like “there” in place of “their” or “seperate” in place of “separate”, etc.
    
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    May 21, 2026 6:05pm
- Ian Boag
  
  Back in the day. Roughly 30% of high school entrants left at 15 with no quals. I did SC in 1961. 50% of those who sat SC failed 50% and most of those who failed left school. Some stayed on to repeat the year. Very few people “sat” UE as the bulk were accredited ie passed by loosely defined internal assessment. Those who sat usually failed. Those who weren’t accredited usually left as there was nothing for them to do other than repeat what they had already failed.
  
  I was at a school with something like 400-odd pupils (HBHS). There were maybe 20 in 6A (year 13) …. so a bit of attrition there.
  
  If you think reversion to this would be progress then good on you ….
  
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  May 21, 2026 8:51am
  - David Garrett
    
    Ian B: Well, I DO think a reversion to a system where qualifications mean something is progress.
    
    What you fail to mention in your little potted history is that many of those who failed School C – and a system which passes everyone is a joke system – went on to become tradesmen.
    
    My father left school in “standard six” because at that time high school was not free, and the family farm had been lost in the depression. He went on to become a very good carpenter; I suspect none of his workmates would have passed School C.
    
    Some trades are of course more demanding than others: pretty much anyone who was good with their hands could become a painter and paper hanger. I doubt anyone without School C could become an electrician.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:03am
    - pdm
      
      DG in my 18 and a bit years in the BNZ 1964 to 1982 I worked for 3 years with a woman about 5 years older than me.
      
      She had sat School C 3 times and never managed to pass. Yet she was one of the most capable people I ever worked with at the BNZ.
      
      By contrast in the late 70’s the bank took on the Dux of a well known Boys High School in the City I had been transferred to. A really good kid but absolutely hopeless when it came to doing anything practical – could not even give a customer a new cheque book without someone having to check on him.
      
      The plan was to send him to Head Office on a cadet ship after he had a few months in a branch but unfortunately he committed suicide before that could happen. A troubled lad in some, perhaps even many ways.
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:27am
      - Ian Boag
        
        Yet she was one of the most capable people I ever worked with at the BNZ.
        
        A different world. These days with that sort of high school record she would never get a job in the bank. She would be competing with people who had passed (tip hat to DG) ….
        
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        May 21, 2026 9:43am
    - Ian Boag
      
      many of those who failed School C … went on to become tradesmen.
      
      True. That was then. Wouldn’t happen now. The polytech bit of an apprenticeship would be a bit hard. Girls could fail SC, retry and pass then get to become nurses. No show of that now – arguably not a bad idea – in 50 years the job of a nurse has become a whole lot more technical than it was then.
      
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      May 21, 2026 10:35am
  - MCōs
    
    Furthermore
    As I have pointed out previously in 1963 when I sat School Cert and the accumulation of marks of your top four subjects needed to be 200, a couple of very good marks could drag you through
    In my case my fifth subject was Chemistry for which I received 27 (we had a wretched teacher and nobody got 50%). Next year I took 6th form Chemistry for UE and barely got double digits.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:29am
    - Flossie
      
      I have to ask MCos – why did you persist with Chemistry?
      
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      May 21, 2026 1:43pm
      - MCōs
        
        My memory is a vague, but as I recall there were three class options at fifth form level at St Bedes at the time 5M, 5G & 5H with a set curriculum of subjects which followed through rigidly to the next levels.
        So I was stuck with English & Maths, where I did well, French & Latin, poor, and Chemistry, abysmal
        Another stream did History and some more fun stuff, but that was for boys who weren’t expected to amount to much
        
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        May 21, 2026 2:28pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    But back in 60s and 70s “failing” S.C. didn’t really mean much to working-class folks. No way did it define you as one of life’s failures…..
    It just meant you weren’t heading for a bum-on-seat job.
    
    There were many possibilities for employment (esp. for males) at that time.
    
    (Check out this essay by Chris Trotter
    https://www.interest.co.nz/public-policy/138567/identify-educational-winners-requires-creating-educational-losers-can-we)
    
    I was offered my first full-time job (at a F&C shop) when I was 15… The owners assumed I’d be leaving school at the end of that year, because that’s what girls in Castlecliff did if they weren’t already pregnant.
    
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    May 21, 2026 9:37am
    - Ian Boag
      
      There were many possibilities for employment (esp. for males) at that time
      
      True then – but not now. Level of educational qualification is a real simple way for HR to filter entry into jobs with any sort of forward path.
      
      It is what it is ….
      
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      May 21, 2026 9:46am
    - Flossie
      
      When I was at high school mid 1960s, the “careers advisor”(for girls) had two options for REAL careers for us, being teaching or nursing. (That was for those of us presumed not to be currently or soon to be pregnant Maggy). Our little town had one lawyer who was a crusty old man, and no TV programme showed female lawyers. If I had known that could have been a possible path for me I would have relentlessly pursued it.
      
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      May 21, 2026 2:19pm
    - MCōs
      
      I had a holiday job on the Timaru waterfront that paid far more than my first job at the MOW. Maybe £20-30/wk. A lot.
      At the MOW I earned £10/wk
      Consequently a lot of kids left school at 15 to work as wharfies or at the works.
      A few years later they have a wife and kids and things aren’t so rosy income wise as some recession hits or the UK joins the EEU
      
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      May 21, 2026 2:46pm
imalwaysright

The Government should hire the consultants who set up the thousands of gravy trains and get them to dismantle them.

They will have all of the records and will know exactly where the money is going.
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May 21, 2026 8:51am
- Paulus
  
  Going back some 40 years came the introduction of the privately owned Employment Agency who did the filtering of people who ventured in their doors – this grew as they continually had lists of people they had put into jobs, and rang them when a new better paid job became available.
  Big cartels of these were seen in Wellingon where connections was all that mattered as the Employment Agency was paid by the Employer in finding a candidate of their choosing so on it went.
  I had some spare office space on the Terrace which I let to a new Agency. The lifts and corridors and toilets were crowded continually as ther trade boomed.
  They came to me within six months asking to release them from the Lease as tbey could not cope with what they originally expected to happen.
  They went to larger premises on the ground floor in Lambton Quay and were very sucessful – and very nice people too, so I gave in.
  
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  May 21, 2026 11:54am
Ian Boag

This was done so that differences in the exam – this year harder or easier – generated about the same pass levels from the population. The alternative would be to suggest that this year’s students are a whole lot brighter/dumber than last years …. relatively unlikely.

50% was the chosen level but it could equally have been 70% or 30% ….
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May 21, 2026 9:02am
- MCōs
  
  Someone in a room somewhere, with a slide rule and an exercise book, probably figured out NZ needed X number of dust men, X number of train drivers, X number of this and that and this is how qualified the population needs to be for there not to be over qualified and cause unrest
  
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  May 21, 2026 9:44am
Flossie

Mods…why is this waiting moderation? Is it offensive or something?
“Absolutely DG. Was going to comment on that point myself.”
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May 21, 2026 9:04am
rouppe

This really riles me up.

Bloke gets grabbed, slammed, handcuffed, threatened with consequences by officer A. Four years to get a not guilty.

Reading the piece, it’s clear to me officer A was an arrogant prick, who’s done the same thing a hundred times, including lying, losing evidence, and got away with it.

Still no real consequences. He ought to lose his job, his super, his house and his family.

It resonated with me as (in an entirely minor inconsequential traffic matter) I’ve had an officer make stuff up as well, and get away with it.

I’ve worked with Police twice in my career. In those jobs the people, including sworn police, have all been very good people, honest and with the best of intentions.

But I’ve no doubt there are pricks like this about.
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May 21, 2026 9:31am
- kowtow
  
  All well and good but it’s total b/s that the Herald frame this as some sort of Selma Alabama , KKK, race thing.
  
  Look at how a little old white lady Liz Gunn was done over at Auckland airport .( oh yeah and they didn’t give her endless race tribal affiliations after her name neither)
  
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  May 21, 2026 11:00am
- MCōs
  
  Is it acceptable for police to engage in high speed cases after identifying stolen cars?
  https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/360981897/christchurch-police-officer-hit-106kph-60kph-zone-during-chase-train-collision
  About fifteen generally older cars are stolen in Chch daily
  Not something I’ve ever done, but my uncle who I’m named after did around 1930.
  Nobody ever talked about it and I only found out when I Googled my name and an old article from the Timaru Herald came up
  So, a skeleton in the cupboard
  He was killed over France fighting for King and country in WWII
  That’s what we remember him for . . .
  
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  May 21, 2026 11:58am
Tauhei Notts

American politics summed up in one sentence. Thomas Massie, on the eve of the primary election in northern Kentucky said;
“Just in case I lose, they have given me the number to call to concede, but the area code is Tel Aviv.”
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May 21, 2026 9:46am
- RoboRob
  
  You make everything about the Jews or Epstein and then are surprised when you get rinsed. Not the sharpest knife in the blockset.
  
  I am sure he will get a role on left wing media to discuss Trumps policies. He wont be unemployed for long.
  
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  May 21, 2026 11:15am
  - Hard Cheese
    
    Why shouldn’t he call for the release of the Epstein files? Are you against them being released? Just checking what your position is.
    
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    May 21, 2026 3:11pm
    - RoboRob
      
      No problem with that. The implication by him and those on the left is that the reason it wasn’t being released was that Trump was donkey deep in it. Unsurprisingly that pissed Trump off.
      
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      May 21, 2026 4:36pm
- virtualmark
  
  Interesting to see the Israeli lobby put so much effort into unseating Massie. He’s got a pro-Israel voting record, but of course his big “win” has been forcing the release of Epstein information.
  
  There have long been serious rumours about Epstein’s ties to Mossad. This Kentucky primary adds more fuel to that fire.
  
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  May 21, 2026 12:33pm
  - imalwaysright
    
    At least its not ‘Russian interference’…
    
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    May 21, 2026 1:05pm
  - RoboRob
    
    No. The epstein stuff was his big loss. Sure he got media and plenty of attention in the MSM after teaming up with potential Bernie replacement Ro Khanna. But by constantly smearing Trump as in the docs he made a powerful enemy. It was stupid and he paid the price.
    
    Blaming the Jews (they are responsibly for everything bad right?) is just a nice excuse to divert away from his own failings.
    
    Oh and one of Massies biggest donors is a Jew.
    
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    May 21, 2026 2:02pm
    - Hard Cheese
      
      Do you think the complete unredacted Epstein files should be released? Why would anyone except someone who had something to hide object to it?
      
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      May 21, 2026 3:00pm
      - RoboRob
        
        I have no problem with the complete files being released. As I said above the thing that pissed off Trump was Massie implying he was majorly implicated in the Docs, why we now know isn’t the case.
        
        Oh and the issue with releasing the docs is that the conspiracy theorists out there will always think there are more hidden docs.
        
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        May 21, 2026 4:39pm
      - virtualmark
        
        RoboRob, the problem with your logic is that:
        a) We know that only some of the Epstein files have been released so far – it seems about half of the total have been released, and none of the video record that historical evidence says the FBI holds,
        *so*
        b) It’s too early for anyone to say “We now know it isn’t the case [that Trump was majorly implicated in the Docs”.
        
        I’m not too wound up about whether Trump is in there or not, but just noting that it’s too early to say.
        
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        May 21, 2026 4:51pm
    - virtualmark
      
      And yet if you go back to the 2024 election Republican voters wanted to see the Epstein files released. Remember how Republican-leaning media had alleged powerful people were running child sex rings, but it was all being covered up? Going as far back as Pizzagate.
      
      So with the Epstein stuff Massie delivered **what the Republican voter base wanted in 2024**.
      
      But it wasn’t what Trump wanted. And it wasn’t what Israel wanted.
      
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      May 21, 2026 3:26pm
      - RoboRob
        
        Those Jews and their pesky space lasers, always causing problems.
        
        You will also recall the Dem base cared not a jot about the Epstein files right up until it became something to bash Trump with.
        
        Yes Massie pushed for what the Rep base wanted. A number of ‘high power’ Reps really stirred people up into believing that the Dems were hiding something. I believed that too, why not release the docs Biden? Trump came in and discoverred the issues with releasing the docs*. The problem for Massie was was how he pushed for it, he joined the left in bashing Trump with it. That pissed off Trump and he paid the price.
        
        Im not saying releasing the files is bad, I am saying Massie made an enemy by being a dick and paid the price. Other Reps have pushed for the release of the docs without slandering Trump and they are fine.
        
        * No I am not going to detail the problems, they have been widely discussed.
        
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        May 21, 2026 4:46pm
      - virtualmark
        
        It’s public record that this was the most expensive Congressional primary ever, and that Gallrein’s primary campaign was largely funded by AIPAC, the Republican Jewish Coalition, Miriam Adelson and Paul Singer. Adelson & Singer are very closely linked to Israel and their political donations are made to Israel-aligned politicians and causes. This is all public record.
        
        What interests me is why would Israel feel the need to spend so heavily to depose a Republican congressman who has reliably voted in support of Israel for over 7 terms?
        
        I’m pro-Israel, so I’m not writing this to bash them. But it is odd.
        
        Also … do you have any links or quotes to statements Massie has made bashing Trump? I haven’t found any. I’m sure Massie pushing the Epstein Files Transparency Act pissed off Trump, but I can’t find anything where Massie slagged him off personally.
        
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        May 21, 2026 4:59pm
      - virtualmark
        
        Oh, also RoboRob, just regarding why the Biden administration didn’t release the Epstein files …
        
        They couldn’t. Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal was still going through the courts. The appeal process didn’t end until early in October last year (when SCOTUS declined to hear her appeal of the earlier Court of Appeals decision). You can’t release files from an investigation until the legal process is complete.
        
        The earliest the Epstein files could be released was mid-October 2025. The first package of files was released on 19 December 2025.
        
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        May 21, 2026 5:14pm
Bevan

Just read RNZ’s expose of the Government AI/Staff reduction announcement.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/595847/replacing-public-servants-with-ai-could-come-with-hidden-costs-critics-warn

For the story, they interviewed [checks notes…] : One Retired Forestry Consultant and two Professors…

I was half expecting a comment or two from the homeless bloke that hangs outside of Burger King
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May 21, 2026 9:51am
- RoboRob
  
  I am sure if you looked into it further you would discover those people have been or are part of left wing parties or organisations.
  
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  May 21, 2026 11:14am
- SoloView
  
  @ Bevan
  1/ Retired Forestry Consultant – no comment.
  
  2/ Jeannie Paterson, Professor of Law and director of the Centre of AI and Digital Ethics at the University of Melbourne.
  
  3/ Professor Alexandra Andhov, chair of law and technology at the University of Auckland.
  
  You are right. What qualifications would any of these people have to comment on anything? //
  
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  May 21, 2026 11:39am
  - Bevan
    
    Did I question their qualifications? Nope.
    
    What I questioned was the lack of balance in regard to who the journalist sought expert opinion from.
    
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    May 21, 2026 3:16pm
Maggy Wassilieff

It might pay for some of the Wellington public servants who are facing the chop to start applying for jobs with the City Council.

https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/wellington-ratepayers-alliance-which-council-bureaucrats-are-being-paid-more-than-200k
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May 21, 2026 10:15am
kowtow

An extraordinary story from the British media .

An RAF fighter pilot , found after some 80 years , he was still in the cockpit seat .
I looked up the area . Swampy , so that’s how he could have stayed lost for so long.

Lest We Forget.

https://www.gbnews.com/news/ww2-remains-raf-pilot-hurricane-laid-to-rest
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May 21, 2026 11:08am
- greybeard
  
  It is indeed extraordinary. And very touching.
  
  7 0
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  May 21, 2026 4:37pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  607 County of Durham Squadron. I see that they had just converted from Gloster Gladiators to Hurricanes, which would have been a big jump.
  
  http://www.historyofwar.org/air/units/RAF/607_wwII.html#google_vignette
  
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  May 21, 2026 6:55pm
- PeterTrentham
  
  RIP Solider.
  
  0 0
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  May 21, 2026 7:01pm
MCōs

Definition of Man and Woman Amendment Bill

13A Meaning of woman or female
In any legislation, regardless of gender identity,—
(a)
woman means an adult human biological female; and
(b)
female means a human biological female.
13B Meaning of man or male
In any legislation, regardless of gender identity,—
(a)
man means an adult human biological male; and
(b)
male means a human biological male.

Just as I thought a female is a female and a bloke is a bloke
What could be simpler
https://www.legislation.govt.nz/bill/members/2026/296/en/latest/#LMS1587316
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May 21, 2026 11:09am
- Drone
  
  We pay these people to waste their time and our money arguing this sort of issue
  
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  May 21, 2026 11:50am
  - keepcalmcarryon
    
    We have to do this because the woke are insane.
    
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    May 21, 2026 1:21pm
OlderChas

Had to snigger last night during three News story on recreating the moa. They noted that moa had “died out” some 500 years ago.
Were exterminated by recent arrivals from the Pacific would have been more accurate.
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May 21, 2026 11:31am
- Flossie
  
  You mean those guys who are so much more attuned to the environment than the more recent arrivals who have stuffed up everything?
  
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  May 21, 2026 12:07pm
  - Raphael
    
    The weird idea that the indigenous* people to an area somehow lived in perfect harmony with nature always seemed bizarre to me.
    
    All people, everywhere, have exploited the environment to the best of their technological ability at the time.
    
    * Yes, I know, but for argument’s sake, just going with the definition they use
    
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    May 21, 2026 12:40pm
    - RoboRob
      
      The ‘Maori were the great environmentalists’ is just revisionist history by Maori and academics trying hard to prove the Maori culture superior.
      
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      May 21, 2026 2:05pm
  - David Garrett
    
    Flossie: I am bit unsure of the numbers, but I think it has been established that the Maori caused more bird species to become extinct pre 1840 than the colonists did aftewards.
    
    Not that the early colonists were conservationists – that really only became “a thing” in the mid to late 60’s.
    
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    May 21, 2026 3:01pm
- Charlotte Wells
  
  Yes, I noted the same thing and had the same thoughts.
  
  The special people are blameless.
  
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  May 21, 2026 1:33pm
Yvette

The New Zealand Government retains a 51% controlling stake in Meridian Energy.
If the Government restated and enforced the religious neutrality their position as a secular government demands, half of what Elliot Ikilei complains of in “Is this a power company or a cultural ministry?” could disappear – as it could in Government itself and all its services.

Instead of resurrection of the Treaty Principles Bill, ACT should start by restating Government secularity and neutrality among all faiths, and let Tukuroirangi Morgan, te Pati Maori, John Tamihere, Brian Tamaki, and Willie Jackson defend the infiltration of Maori religious worldview into primary schools and the rest of the education sector.
____________
article – https://www.brashandmitchell.com/post/elliot-ikilei-is-this-a-power-company-or-a-cultural-ministry
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May 21, 2026 11:32am
- mandk
  
  One has to wonder how much senior management time was wasted on that woke nonsense, instead of it being used to make Meridian operate more efficiently.
  
  10 1
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  May 21, 2026 12:04pm
Swifty

Sam Harris nails the ridiculous claims of genocide in Gaza.

https://x.com/lizarosen0000/status/2057183370279346443?s=46
6 3
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May 21, 2026 12:34pm
- Raphael
  
  one of the few times I find myself in agreement with Sam Harris
  
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  May 21, 2026 12:40pm
Yvette

Public ‘servants’
From 2017 to recent figures, the increase is roughly 16,000 additional FTEs, or about one-third growth overall
So Nicola Willis has about 7,300 to go before she is down to pre-Ardern numbers
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May 21, 2026 12:55pm
Jack5

Trump’s tariffs take effect.

The Telegraph reports Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) signed a deal with the owner of Chrysler and Fiat that could see it build vehicles in the US.

When the Trump tariffs, which impose 10 per cent on cars, were first announced JLR said it had not plans to manufacture in the US.

JRL owned by Tata Motors, of India, employs 33,000 people at 17 sites in the UK.
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May 21, 2026 4:20pm
greybeard

https://www.stuff.co.nz/home-property/360981871/rich-stupid-people-who-bought-2021-what-it-feels-be-trapped-waihekes-sharp-property-downturn
This article is absolutely extraordinary:

“Kirstin Little’s home at 35 Wilma Road sits on a quiet street around 10 minutes walk from Palm Beach, one of Waiheke’s best known swimming beaches. Photo: TRADE ME”.

“I’m literally going through all my savings. I’m not going to get my glaucoma checked. I’m not going to the dentist to get an x-ray, I’m not getting the car fixed. I’ve got a car insurance claim that they’re ready to pay out thousands of dollars for but I can’t even afford to pay for the excess. I’m not spending money on anything except food and petrol because the mortgage is killing me.”

“None of this helps Little, who also needs to free up some money to help her 17 year old son go to university to study business. He already works 4 nights a week in hospitality.
“Student living costs are soaring and halls of residence are almost $600 a week, so I really want to help.”
So, she’s organising signs, preparing the house for her first Open Home at 1pm this Saturday, and hoping somebody walks through the door prepared to make her first offer.”

She must have some sort of relationship with someone in Stuff.
I am now awaiting a Givealittle plea, to save this poor badly-treated woman!
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May 21, 2026 4:51pm
- Ian
  
  As noted, she’s got a car insurance claim worth thousands but can’t afford to pay the excess first. Someone should put their hand up to pay it for a sizeable part of the claim pay-out in compensation…
  
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  May 21, 2026 5:00pm
- Handyman
  
  Can the LGM (Labour/Green/Maori) coalition tell us how much capital gains tax would have been collected in the last financial year with house prices dropping across the country?
  
  1 1
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  May 21, 2026 5:11pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    CGT would be based on the difference between purchase price – often quite a while back – and sale price today. If introduced, the baseline will be set on the day it comes into force. There will be a “V-day” – sounds difficult but it wasn’t a problem in Canada in 1972 …..
    
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    May 21, 2026 7:23pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

TV1’s lead story features an activist moaning about the government’s proposed changes to rent contribution levels by tenants living in public housing on grounds of poverty.

This advocate was filmed using Apple Airbuds or similar, and her shoulder bag had a broad strap featuring the Dior brand.

Now, possibly these are cheap knock offs (aka illegal trade mark usage) rather than the genuine article, but I’d have to say that they rather undermine her claim to poverty.
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May 21, 2026 6:30pm
- MCōs
  
  PB Tech sell similar looking headphones for $45 & op shops sell second hand handbags
  
  1 1
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  May 21, 2026 8:08pm
KKNZ2025

OTOH, perceptions of rank hypocrisy & entitlement carry a lot of weight with voters
https://www.stuff.co.nz/politics/360982141/minister-seeking-tougher-accommodation-supplement-criteria-claims-1000-week-housing-allowance
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May 21, 2026 8:18pm
Ghost

What a ~~lovely~~ creep to have as a teacher

A teacher who grabbed a woman’s head and slammed it into the floor has been allowed to retain his registration.

The details of Kahukura Bentson’s violent history were detailed in a Teachers Disciplinary Tribunal released today.

Article
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May 21, 2026 8:31pm
- greybeard
  
  “Once were Teachers”.
  
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  May 22, 2026 7:55am

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