About
Contact
Advertise

Facebook
Twitter

August 1, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 01 August 2026

Like this:

Like Loading…

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment112

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (112)

Login to comment or vote

CJames

With regards Trumps tariffs against NZ because our products are made with goods components made by companies using forced labour/ slavery. Where do the hundreds if not soon to be thousands of MW of solar panels being used to generate our electricity come from? Aren’t they from far-west China where there are the factories using the Uyghurs?
33 2
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 8:02am
- CJames
  
  I should note that personally I think Trump’s America first tariff idea is stupid, but NZ doesn’t have clean hands with regards imports from China made by forced labour.
  
  32 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 8:05am
  - Grumpy Silver Top
    
    The whole renewables farce is built on hypocrisy and a shallow understanding of basic reality. Not to mention all underwritten by taxpayer dollars. So our society has invested millions in a short term ‘solution’ to a manufactured disaster, ie man made climate change, that will never fix ‘the problem’ but brings with it long term losses. The Spectator Australia has an article on just this. (I suspect it’s behind a paywall but libraries have the magazine in their catalogues) admin, please shorten. https://www.spectator.com.au/2026/07/renewables-its-worse-than-you-thought/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=FLAT%20%20NEW%20TEMPLATE%20%2020260731%20%20SG%20%20EXPRESS%20VPN&utm_content=FLAT%20%20NEW%20TEMPLATE%20%2020260731%20%20SG%20%20EXPRESS%20VPN+CID_03ddcc8e34fcc9f7c2e044c6cda40ac1&utm_source=CampaignMonitor_Australia&utm_term=Renewables%20its%20worse%20than%20you%20thought
    
    14 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 8:18am
  - Jack5
    
    Or is Trump talking about slavery within New Zealand, as in:
    
    https://www.inkl.com/news/slavery-in-new-zealand-inside-the-story-of-the-samoan-chief-who-abused-power-for-profit
    
    12 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 8:21am
- kevn
  
  CJ… These low grade panels?
  https://joannenova.com.au/2026/02/solar-photovoltaics-degrading-faster-than-expected-8-may-only-last-11-years/
  
  12 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 9:41am
Southern Raider

I support a two state solution in Spain with the Moors in the South and Catholics in the North and a shared capital and full rights for all citizens

It is the only just solution for all the new immigrants making their way to the promised land and any good socialist president would follow though with this.
12 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 8:06am
Cassandra

The extraordinary misrepresentation of Winston Peters’ response to an interjection in Parliament continues, with Radio NZ leading the charge. Peters did not say “Go back to where you came from” and leave it at that. He said go there, learn and then come back and tell us what you learned and change your behaviour (before exiting Parliament).

If he said anything critical it was about lying. If I was a Chinese person I wouldn’t like to be called a liar but he wasn’t referring to Joe Wu in the street.
33 6
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 8:12am
- Jack5
  
  It’s the style of reporting that’s a problem: interview people at random then quote the ones whose views match the story theme.
  
  16 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 8:26am
  - R
    
    Story theme ?…..more correctly, …the ideological agenda of the editor/reporter
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 10:34am
- pdm
  
  `If I was a Chinese person I wouldn’t like to be called a liar but he wasn’t referring to Joe Wu in the street.’
  
  Not sure you are right there Cass.
  
  From Yvette’s Hansard quote in GD yesterday:
  “Go back to your own country—that’s where they lie like a flatfish, but they don’t lie like that here, all right?’
  
  Hard to interpret that as anything other than Peters saying all Chinese are liars.
  
  If Peters was a National Party Minister he would have lost his Portfolios by now but, Luxon does not have the balls to go head to head with Peters.
  
  16 12
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 8:27am
  - CJames
    
    I would query that interpretation of saying all Chinese are liars. The Chinese government and their stooges lie about many issues but that is not saying ALL Chinese lie. He didn’t use the word ALL.
    I mean politicians lie, but not all politicians lie, nor do the ones that lie do it all the time. More than subtle differences.
    
    15 6
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 8:38am
    - MCōs
      
      One could say the PM is acting like a stooge of Messrs Winston & Jones as long as he tolerates their behaviour
      
      3 21
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 9:05am
      - kowtow
        
        It’s called MMP.
        
        Get real.
        
        Meanwhile the media pardy continue to play idiot swing voters like the fools they are.
        
        21 2
        Report
        August 1, 2026 9:59am
      - Poppax8
        
        Luxon cant sack anyone from NZF unless he wants an early election!
        
        5 0
        Report
        August 1, 2026 10:54am
  - Cassandra
    
    Read and watch the whole thing. He goes on to talk about democracy. I’m no WP fan but I think he’s being misrepresented.
    
    32 6
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 8:40am
    - MCōs
      
      I’m not for one moment advocating for the Chinese system of government, but there are few democracies that are not flawed; many/most profoundly so.
      
      3 14
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 9:15am
  - redeye
    
    If he was to dump Peters’ he would blow up the coalition. We would have 3 more years of Hipkins, co-governance would be entreched and our debt would be triple.
    And Peters know that. Unfortunately.
    
    14 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 8:45am
    - R
      
      And ‘We’ wouldn’t have to worry about elections. We wouldn’t be a democracy anymore, and there would not be any further elections. Marxist UTOPIA at last!
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 10:39am
  - crash
    
    In fairness, Luxon does not have the option to sack Peters or Seymour (or any of their respective ministers) Both have cabinet positions guaranteed by their respective coalition agreements, with no provision for dismissal.
    
    The alternatives are that both Labour and National be more selective about who they offer coalition agreements to, with a preference for confidence-and-supply instead.
    
    Neither party leader has the balls to do this.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 2, 2026 4:48pm
- KKNZ2025
  
  It was another Peters dog whistle, he has a long history. His target market heard & rush to defend him, which also says a lot about them.
  
  7 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 8:36am
- nz_aj
  
  I’m no Winston fan, but I think he’s been unfairly attacked. A longer context is needed. The subject was Covid, and he’d said “Hipkins, Verrall, Robertson, Ardern refused to turn up to an inquiry” followed by an accusation of them lying, then Xu-Nans interjection, per hansard:
  Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: The original sham inquiry even failed to identify that Chris Hipkins and Verrall knew about advice that highlighted danger to under-17-year-olds having two shots and suffering from myocarditis. They knew about it, and then they claimed they didn’t know.
  Dr Lawrence Xu-Nan: Are you vaccinated?
  Rt Hon WINSTON PETERS: I’m not making it up, sunshine. I noticed you came here five minutes ago. Go back to your own country—that’s where they lie like a flatfish, but they don’t lie like that here, all right? This is called a democracy—this is called a democracy, unlike what you’re used to. Go back to where you’ve come from, you loudmouth, and maybe you’ll learn something about the political system of New Zealand in time before you go streaming out of here in three months’ time.
  
  17 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 9:17am
- pb
  
  On the media:
  
  “I don’t think so. I think you’re the problem, the media, and, um, speaking of loathing, you are loathed far more than I am and you don’t seem to even realize that.” Elon
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 11:21am
- Paulus
  
  The media are in their element critcising both Peters and of course it is Luxon’s fault anyway.
  Load of crap but now normal !
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 11:54am
Biscuit

Happy ‘Birthday’ to every horse in the Southern Hemisphere…
22 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 8:25am
- Gravelroad
  
  Their birthday gift will likely be a ban on their track racing pursuits – same as the greyhounds.
  Logically (and to be consistent), this will need to be followed by a ban on show jumping, cross country eventing and farmers riding horses up hills to muster sheep and cattle.
  All of these pursuits could be spun as being “cruel”-same as racing.
  Kids hit their horses with whips at Pony Club events and A&P shows.
  Should they be banned?
  
  18 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 8:38am
  - pdm
    
    They (the Powers that be) aided and abetted by the Racing Minister are sure as hell working on destroying racing south of Waikato Gravel.
    
    Wanting to close down Trentham is a disgrace and an embarrassment that it is even suggested.
    
    Not to mention the very successful country meetings throughout NZ – Waipukurau being but one example of a club that runs successful race days a couple of times a year.
    
    14 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 9:03am
    - Jack5
      
      Does this have a big effect on trainers and owners in the regions? Where to they work their horses after the local racecourse is sold up?
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 9:25am
      - pdm
        
        Not sure about trackwork etc Jack.
        
        But if you are training in Hastings, Woodville, Awapuni etc and have a quality horse you are going to be facing a lot of travelling for major races. Either that or the horse goes to a northern trainer or even worse is lost to NZ Racing by being sent to Australia.
        
        Last season Auckland pirated the NZOaks from Trentham and I suspect that is only the start.
        
        7 0
        Report
        August 1, 2026 11:56am
    - MCōs
      
      Personally I have no interest in horse racing and whether or not any particular track is closed.
      However
      Many times I’ve been to the Avondale Market, which is held each Sunday behind the grandstands at the Avondale racetrack.
      The facilities there are a pitiful compared to Ellerslie racetrack twenty minutes away. Everything is shabby and I was told the crowds were paltry.
      Looking at the annual report it was the rent from the market that was the big earner and kept the place going.
      Maybe Trentham is losing a lot of money. Trentham, Avondale, Ellerslie are all in the middle of the city with developers itching to get their hands on the land.
      The land under Ellerslie racecourse in particular must be hugely valuable and the owners must be working overtime on side hustles to keep the wolf from the doors.
      
      5 7
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 9:41am
    - leoj
      
      Trentham is in extremely poor shape. The Members’ Stand is fair but the new block behind it is a dump.
      
      The track’s surface is also poor and needs tearing up.
      
      There are too many tracks for the horses racing and there is not enough money to bring the tracks and the facilities up to standard.
      
      Asset rich but cash poor.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 8:14pm
  - kowtow
    
    Sheep are herded under threat of violence by dogs ……
    
    ( This is simply a logical extension of the soft /stupid thinking that the pro animal brigade play on when presenting their agenda.Be very afraid)
    
    15 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 10:02am
    - I remember when
      
      Who knew that keeping animals, especially dogs, on postage stamp sized properties, allowing them to become overweight, unfit, often being left on their own, was being kind?
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 11:48am
Yvette

Wai not
I have several times advocated that the fact New Zealand Government and all its services and functions are supposedly secular – that no religion is raised Aryan-like above any other, so religious neutrality – should be enforced or actually practised. This of course at present is noticeably thwarted by considerations of te Ao o Maori, the Maori religious world view. As difficult as it may be to separate culture from religion, neither should be emphasised by the State unless it is relevant to a Treaty Settlement or direct relevance to a matter in hand.

Maori religious world view should have the same status as Sharia Law has at present in New Zealand society – unless there is something I am unaware of regarding Sharia Law.

The deep connection between Māori and water (wai) stems from a worldview (te ao Māori) centered on kinship, spirituality, and stewardship rather than resource exploitation or property ownership. Over recent decades, New Zealand’s legal framework and judiciary have increasingly recognized these principles, embedding customary law (tikanga) directly into state law and court rulings.

Life Force (Mauri): Water is considered the spiritual essence of life, possessing mauri (vital life force). Tikanga categorizes water based on its quality and spiritual state—such as waiora (pure water for life and healing) or waikino (polluted/dangerous water). Protecting the mauri of a water body is a cultural imperative.

In that last sentence should “cultural” not be “religious”, or just “Protecting the purity of a water body is imperative” – because without clean healthy water we all die?

Do Maori have a greater affinity for oxygen?

Of course the motivation for claiming the secularity of New Zealand Government should be better observed is to reduce the unnecessary and unhelpful authority Maori religious views appear to have where no other belief systems of non-Maori are allowed.
31 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 8:40am
- Cassandra
  
  A well-reasoned critique, Yvette. I can’t help but think that some of the Maori world view is influenced by financial benefits. It’s staggering that deeply held beliefs can be assuaged by money.
  
  30 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 9:03am
  - Yvette
    
    Respectfully, Cassandra, this has nothing to do with the validity of Maori beliefs, what forms them, or what may change them, but rather that the Bill of Human Rights gives freedom of religion, and a corollary of that should also be the freedom from religion – particularly what may be politicised religion.
    
    15 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 9:29am
    - Cassandra
      
      I believe that I was addressing a different aspect of the Maori world view, as well as agreeing with you.
      
      10 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 9:47am
      - Yvette
        
        Yes, certainly – sorry
        
        7 0
        Report
        August 1, 2026 10:09am
    - Paulus
      
      Validity of Maori beliefs as being taught in all Primary schools and Kapa Haka, as being the only life force which we must all accept as these children grow up no better educated than ever.
      More crap emulated by the ridiculous Waitangi Tibunal which must be abolished, as it has no power only huge costing copied in the so called media.
      Heard that there are some 3,500 recomendations from the expensive and ridiculour place. which they one day expect all to be approved by their Parliament.
      
      10 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 12:03pm
      - NZer In Exile
        
        All being pushed by a unrepresentative minority of uppity and delusional revolutionaries.
        
        1 0
        Report
        August 1, 2026 5:06pm
      - R
        
        3500 recommendations! I’m rather pleased that I am well into my dotage. Don’t want to be around to witness such a pending disaster. Guess my extended family will be overseas by then.
        
        1 0
        Report
        August 1, 2026 5:13pm
- rouppe
  
  The deep connection between Māori and water (wai) stems from a worldview (te ao Māori) centered on kinship, spirituality, and stewardship rather than resource exploitation or property ownership.
  
  Except that is a load of lies.
  
  Kinship? Fighting, enslavement, forcible taking off other tribes resources.
  
  Spirituality? Stories about Gods to explain what you don’t understand? To me spirituality is more about knowing yourself and your place among others.
  
  Stewardship? 40% of Forest cover was burned. Species made extinct. Battles where the river running red with blood is a celebration.
  
  The rewriting of their own history is breathtaking
  
  34 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 9:13am
  - Yvette
    
    Claims Māori will own NZ’s water infrastructure dismissed
    We have always said, that we’re not interested in owning the water assets. What we’re interested in is the proprietor rights over water, and that is a discussion to be had with the Crown, not with councils” – Tukoroirangi Morgan, who was appointed CEO of largest entity (outside his own Waikato district) of Labour’s Three Waters entities
    https://www.1news.co.nz/2022/03/09/claims-maori-will-own-nzs-water-infrastructure-dismissed/
    
    They were not interested in the expense or maintenance of pipes, but what flowed through them
    
    Are proprietor rights over water a religious view or a commercial consideration?
    Is Ngai Tahu not presently pursuing this through the courts?
    
    17 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 9:40am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Ironic that the ‘colonisers’ arrived by water.
    
    Surely we are taonga mai i te wai…
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 10:17am
  - Paulus
    
    But we are supposed to believe and accept their history with no foundation in truth.
    
    8 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 12:04pm
    - mike
      
      Which bits of history do you believe to have no foundation in truth?
      
      1 13
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 12:50pm
      - rouppe
        
        That they were one tangata whenua, with common goals, were peaceful, and in harmony with nature. That they nurtured the environment and were careful guardians of resources
        
        13 5
        Report
        August 1, 2026 2:10pm
      - mike
        
        Yeah that’s you imagining a history no none has described.
        
        1 6
        Report
        August 1, 2026 6:00pm
    - leoj
      
      We are also expected to accept their culture, you know, the one that sees an extremely high level of infant death.
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 8:17pm
  - OlderChas
    
    I have often wondered – did they maori dig latrines? Or what? Squat where they were at the time? Or use a stream or river?
    
    1 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 5:36pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      Says something about you if this is the sort of thing you have often wondered about. When did you stop and why?
      
      Now you have me thinking. I didn’t see a loo in the Treaty House either.
      
      4 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 6:01pm
    - Ghost
      
      strange, because last time you wondered this I gave you this link
      
      Traditional Māori communities kept human waste separate from living quarters and food preparation areas. 18th-century European explorers observed this and some, such as James Cook, compared the sanitation practices of Māori communities favourably to those of European towns.
      
      Article
      
      Maybe this time try reading it
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 6:10pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  The deep connection between Māori and water (wai) stems from a worldview (te ao Māori) centered on kinship, spirituality, and stewardship
  
  So what?
  
  Why should one group’s cultural/religious affinity with water confer any greater rights to them than any other group of people?
  
  There’s not a human alive that doesn’t have a non-negotiable physiological need for clean water.
  
  Every cultural or religious group that has ever been in existence has centred their life around water in some manner.
  
  There’s nothing exceptional in the Maori -water/wai
  relationship…. just a load of loaded terminology.
  
  32 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 9:50am
  - Swifty
    
    Power, control, money.
    
    That’s what’s at the heart of it.
    
    9 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 10:09am
  - mike
    
    Arguably, the TOW confirmed Māori stewardship of water.
    
    0 26
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 12:52pm
    - NeverMindTheBollocks
      
      Citation required
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 1:25pm
    - rouppe
      
      Only if you want an argument
      
      15 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 2:11pm
    - Swifty
      
      Does that include reparations when rivers burst their banks and flood towns etc?
      
      3 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 5:53pm
  - NZer In Exile
    
    Must not question or argue with these gold medal statements of word-salad bollocks. It’s super dooper sacred stuff you know. 🙄 Most in NZ have Stockholm syndrome and are too scared to call bullshit on this silly hyperbolic BS.
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 5:13pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Oxygen, you say Yvette? Now, once we’ve got control of water then that’ll be next on the list. Because, why not?
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 9:51am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Humans consist of 80+% of water.
  
  Does that mean that Maori have a special interest in 80+% of me?
  
  12 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 9:53am
  - R
    
    Yes! Primarily its your ASSETS, that they would like an unearned share of.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 10:47am
  - Paulus
    
    No, only 80%.
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 12:05pm
- kowtow
  
  All humans have a deep connection with water.
  
  It makes up some 50 % of our bodies.
  
  2 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 10:06am
- pb
  
  Ref check please. Moa, NZ forests, Moriori. Entangling NZ bureaucracy with stone-age religious whims ludicrous, but trendy amongst the cloistered activist class.
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 11:26am
- Nikola Donatello
  
  Indeed. Water quality is regulated in all wealthy nations. Water is kept safe and clean using science. Simple as that.
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 12:02pm
Scott

On happier topics with regard to Winston I got an email yesterday from Don Brash at Hobsons Pledge noting that Parliament had passed a bill recognising English as an official language of NZ.
Hobsons Pledge was proud to have been the seed for this issue. Brash notes:

“This decision is not about diminishing any other language or culture. It is about restoring balance, ensuring practical communication, and reinforcing what unites us.
One people, one public conversation, and an equality of language that connects us all.
While the credit for getting this bill over the line belongs to New Zealand First (who made it a condition of the coalition agreement and fought for it in Parliament), Hobson’s Pledge is proud to have been the seed for this issue. So it is great to see the Bill finally realised, and we thank NZ First for following through on their commitment.”

So NZ First got this over the line and had made it a condition of the coalition agreement.
So well done to Don Brash and well done to Winston Peters. 👏👏👏
27 3
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 8:41am
pdm

`Do Maori have a greater affinity for oxygen?’

Probably.

After all they had a shot at claiming the airwaves some years ago.

Oxygen therefore is a no brainer wouldn’t you think..
22 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 9:06am
- David George
  
  Fred and Hemi at the pub.
  Fred: hey Hemi, you got Sky yet?
  Hemi: Not yet Fred, we’re going for the land and the sea first.
  
  27 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 9:24am
  - Yvette
    
    Pdm and David George
    2022 Landmark Agreement: The Crown and the Māori Spectrum Working Group signed an agreement providing ongoing national access, a permanent entity, and 25% of mid-band 5G spectrum.
    Perpetual 20% Share: A policy framework ensuring Māori receive an ongoing allocation of 20% of future national commercial spectrum at no cost.
    
    Mid-19th century Māori texts show taonga was used for valued physical goods—such as greenstone (pounamu), woven cloaks, heirlooms, tools, and land—as well as highly prized cultural assets.
    
    Treaty Critics and Reformers: Often cite the 1820 “property procured by the spear” entry or the 1844 “property” definition to argue that in 1840, taonga strictly referred to tangible, physical possessions and property.
    
    The Waitangi Tribunal and Courts: Since the 1980s, the Waitangi Tribunal and the courts have recognized taonga as encompassing both tangible and intangible treasures—including Te Reo Māori (the Māori language), radio spectrums, ancestral knowledge, and natural resources
    
    8 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 9:56am
    - NZer In Exile
      
      How the mother $%^ing hell did the Waitangi Tribunal figure the radio spectrum had anything to do with Treaty claims? Can someone walk me through the (il)logical steps of thinking that led to this? 🤔
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 5:19pm
- G152
  
  Maori TV programs 20 years ago to Maori TV programs currently and no Pacific TV time
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 12:44pm
gravedodger

Koha the basic premise Cassandra.
Even paying a fee to LTSA can remove danger of distraction by a road side sign.
16 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 9:11am
- imalwaysright
  
  Note that koha is morphing into a subscription model where permissions and names are granted for limited periods and can be renewed by further payments.
  
  The Maori name of the Wellington Central Library has been conferred for a fee of $50,000 for the first year.
  
  14 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 9:37am
  - Drone
    
    Is this like the naming of the sports stadium in Wellington, it was Sky now it’s Hnry..
    
    1 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 10:41am
  - Ghost
    
    god you speak complete bullshit. This was another lie that has never been backed, and in fact, the name is not new.
    
    Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui was gifted to the Wellington central library in 1991 by the maori language commission.
    
    Te Matapihi ki te Ao Nui has been the name of our central library since its opening in 1991 and was gifted by Te Taura Whiri i te Reo Māori (Māori Language Commission).
    
    Link
    
    stop with your constant lying
    
    3 22
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 10:52am
    - Jack5
      
      Ghost, re the word “lying.”
      
      It means more than “untruth”. It usually entails intention to deceive.
      
      The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy notes the Oxford English Dictionary definition of lying: “to make a false statement with the intention to deceive.”
      
      Stanford then cites what it calls the traditional definition: “… to make a believed-false statement to another person with the intention that the other person believe that statement to be true.”
      
      For those with a philosophical turn of mind:
      
      https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/lying-definition/
      
      10 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 11:11am
      - Ghost
        
        some people do set out to deceive, especially the person above who after things are shown to him to be wrong, continues pushing that lie over and over. When challenged to back up the lies, he never can. But alas, when people accept the lies and stop demanding truth, we have problems.
        
        lying fits.
        
        4 15
        Report
        August 1, 2026 11:19am
    - Taieri
      
      Are English names also “gifted”?
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 11:22am
  - R
    
    First year!….great.
    WCC don’t pay next years fee; we can then go back to calling it Wellington Central Library, and spend the $50,000 on repairing the sewage system.
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 10:53am
  - Swifty
    
    Got a citation for your naming fee claim?
    
    I thought I’ve read specifically that there has been no fee involved.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 11:26am
  - Paulus
    
    And they want a $ billion to allow the Ports of Tauranga to make a small increase its and the country’s trade.
    Do think that would be the Iwi’s end ?
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 12:09pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Correct Paulus, and that’s on the annual payment plan as well.
      Extortion.
      
      1 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 1:12pm
- artemisia
  
  My own hapu has attempted to extract ‘koha’ from LTNZ. Well paid for a cultural assessment related to a small section of roading upgrade then asked for several more non trivial chunks of ‘koha’ for supposed impacts. All denied as out of scope, correct they were trying it on. The assessment was almost all cut and paste.
  
  Not the first rodeo, owner of a block of land privately for about a century applied for development consent and suddenly there was a bit of sacred ground in the middle. Developer eventually collected a consent but also costs and ongoing responsibilities.
  
  13 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 10:07am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Artemisia,
    
    Koha has become an industry run for the benefit of activists who have monetised the Maori culture.
    
    They will sell anything, meanwhile the people they pretend to represent go skint.
    
    2 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 12:01pm
imalwaysright

Estimated 60,000 illegals invade Cueta, Spain and over run the town.

Meanwhile the French authorities aid illegals to cross the English Channel.

https://youtu.be/JWtZDAWhlio?si=X0GawFST2bWI43Hz (GB News)
15 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 9:31am
- artemisia
  
  Social media encouraged the mass swim to Ceuta. No backpacks though, could be dangerous swimming with them. Reported that one young man said he went home as had money but there was no food. Many others have gone back already. Hungry? Pics and videos show mostly young men. They’ll need food. Local shops mostly boarded up.
  
  Assume the idea is to get plenty through Ceuta to the EU and financial nirvana. Will probably deliver.
  
  9 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 10:32am
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    Spain could have seen this coming, and forestalled the invasion by gifting Ceuta back to Morocco. But now they’ve reached EU soil, Europe is their oyster.
    
    4 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 11:15am
    - Ian Boag
      
      Cuenta has been Spanish since the mid-1600’s. Morocco has existed as a country since the mid-1900’s.
      
      Go figure
      
      1 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 6:08pm
    - Taieri
      
      Ceuta is not part of the Schengen area.
      
      0 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 6:59pm
  - kowtow
    
    Sanchez has had a recent mass amnesty and a Spanish court also recently sided with ‘swimming” illegals .
    
    Meanwhile dozens have died in the Xing attempt while many others declare “Allah Akbar” as they enter.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 11:21am
- virtualmark
  
  There’s normally a story behind the story …
  
  Morocco has long wanted to absorb Ceuta and Milella. They (probably rationally) think they are part of North Africa, not Spain. But more recently it’s been about sovereignty claims over the Straits of Gibraltar.
  
  Check out the map at http://gibnet.com/fish/waters.htm If Morocco could absorb Ceuta then a lot more of the Strait would be in Moroccan territorial waters. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this is happening at a time when we’re getting a real-life lesson on control of narrow shipping straits, the potential charging of levies/fees, the potential to hold the world to ransom etc.
  
  Anyway. Trump is pissed at Spain, so the Trump admin has been flirting with recognising Moroccan sovereignty over Ceuta. The Moroccans have responded by creating an “invasion” of Ceuta (Morocco opened the gates on their side of the border). The Trump administration has responded by using that to scare up warnings of how there could be an “invasion” from Mexico. And so we go.
  
  What’s happening on the ground in Ceuta has less to do with the individuals at the border and much more to do with Moroccan and US politics.
  
  4 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 10:34am
- David George
  
  “Three weeks ago, Spain held up a sign saying destroy Israel, a state that has been forced to defend itself from Islamist invasion.
  
  Today, after Spain was invaded by its Muslim neighbors, they are crying on TV asking for help.
  
  Enjoy the intifada”
  Erica Le Bon on X
  
  16 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 11:26am
- Paulus
  
  Said some 50,000 returned leaving a paltry 10,000 in Ceuta Spain.
  
  5 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 12:10pm
Swifty

I was at the announcement of the proposed reorganisation of certain groups within WCC yesterday.

Changes are afoot!
10 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 9:32am
- KKNZ2025
  
  The review recommended over 300 roles be disestablished, WCC are proposing to look at 50.
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 11:06am
  - Swifty
    
    The reorganisation proposed yesterday relates to only a subset of the whole organisation.
    
    Other changes to remaining parts may follow.
    
    And then we’ll have amalgamation in some form too, with luck.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 3:20pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    If gummint was serious about saving money – now – they would just abate the pension so it was all gone when pensioners had $100k of income from wherever.
    
    Could happen right now – not involve any reorganisation – and the relatively small number affected would not get much sympathy. $2-3bn – none of the $10m here and $50m there are in the same league. But we keep paying it to anyone over 65 with a pulse.
    
    1 5
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 1, 2026 6:13pm
    - Taieri
      
      Why $100K? Why not $15K?
      In fact why do we pay old people at all, they should die when they reach 65. Would that make you happy?
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 1, 2026 7:01pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  Please tell me that the cycleway uber alles brigade are being lined up for the DCM.
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 1:28pm
crash

As an interesting piece of research given events involving Winston Peters this week, I came across this:

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/dismissal-rt-hon-winston-peters

How good would it be if the current PM could be as decisive (whether right or Wrong).
3 2
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 9:33am
- Jack5
  
  Jenny Shipley was a decisive manager?
  
  She was the subject of a judgment for $6 million over her role as a director of Mainzeal, which crashed leaving debts of more than $110 million.
  
  https://www.thecorporategovernanceinstitute.com/insights/news-analysis/dame-jenny-shipley-fine-mainzeal/
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 10:48am
  - crash
    
    That came well after her political career had ended and is therefore irrelevant. My point was she took on Winston Peters and it is inconceivable that Luxon would have the courage to do the same.
    
    0 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 2, 2026 4:54pm
Quail

Rehash of yesterday( late Friday ??? ) post on the Government decision to give management of Molesworth Station to Ngai Tahu.
From the article — “ to Ngai Tahu farming, part of of the tribe’s group CHARITY registration “
So here we go again ,yet another huge gift to a Maori Corporate ,this time a mere 440,000 acres ,that will now yield no tax or rates to wider NZ .
Another disgrace!
This Government is hell bent on co governance, and now seems to have lost any desire to be re elected!
27 2
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 9:38am
- AitchW
  
  No doubt TPM will be loud and effusive in their gratitude to the government for this generous gift.
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 11:33am
NeverMindTheBollocks

I see that residents of inland Otago do not want to buddy up with the People’s Republic of Dunedin.

Can’t say I blame them.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/regions_otago/854923/otago-councils-want-to-form-unitary-authority-without-dunedin
16 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 9:56am
- H. Upmann
  
  Peter Williams has a great piece today on the local government situation in Central Otago – https://peterallanwilliams.substack.com/p/stop-the-madness?publication_id=1788933&post_id=209247464&isFreemail=true&r=iy19a&triedRedirect=true
  
  2 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 10:47am
Swifty

“It’s sad that I don’t get to chat with my friend or hang out, but I’ll see him in a bit. I don’t feel like any of this is the end of things.”

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/taika-waititi-sees-death-very-differently-to-other-people-reflects-on-sam-neills-passing/DXBTWTAFTVBTXOBD3XSRBSZX7Q/

Delusional.
3 2
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 10:13am
MCōs

I thought I’d struggle to get much interest in the Commonwealth Games, but as soon as there’s someone in black doing the business, particularly against an Aussie, I sit up straight and pay attention
This morning Eliza McCartney beat Australian Nina Kennedy, Australian champion of everything.
It’s the first notable gold McCartney has ever won since popping up out of nowhere to win bronze as a 19yo ten years ago at the Olympics
That really moved the spirit pour moi
19 4
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 10:19am
- I remember when
  
  Zoe Hobbs winning the 100 was special after many years of hard work and persistence.
  Eliza has also had her battles, especially with injury, when retirement might have seemed like the easy option.
  Two well deserved gold medals.
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 11:20am
I remember when

It’s a perfect time to be Green.
At present Transpower graphs show we are producing 100% renewable electricity.
No coal or gas.
Obviously it is a reasonably sunny day nationally with solar producing 34% of its capacity.
Wind is doing a little better at 38%.
Of course, Hydro and Geothermal are doing the heavy lifting generating 88% of the total.
8 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 1, 2026 11:11am
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  For a point of interest, the new data center near invercargill is forecast to use about half as much as Tiwai, day in day out it will take 6 percent of NZs entire electricity production.
  Are they going to build generation capacity for all that?
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 1, 2026 6:33pm
igm

So Wellington’s new water department is having financial problems, incorrect billing, and just another capital socialist mess. Surely the moment it was given a stoneage name in “Bastard” maori the writing was on the wall!
1 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 2, 2026 7:27am

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« RIP Jim Hopkins

Guest Post: The Case for the 51st State: Reimagining New Zealand’s Strategic and Economic Future »

Donations

You can now donate to Kiwiblog

Exclusive content from DPF on Patreon

Become a Patron!

Never miss a post

Email Address

Join 13K other subscribers

Highlights

Target achieved II
Good progress on attendance
Health Target 5 – elective treatments
Health Target 4 – Specialist appointments

Links

Bryan Bruce – Choosing Not To Vote For Act
The Daily Blog
Early Christianity: A Brief Tour Through the Theological Wild West
No Minister
The all powerful TOP Board
Utopia
Open Mike 23/08/2026
The Standard
Word of the day
Hompaddock
Adobe Canyon Men
Kiwipolitico
How Simeon Brown stonewalled Parliamentary questions about nurse numbers – and triumphed in not saying “54”
Point of Order
Krasnov is a criminal
Not PC
No way to run a country
No Right Turn
Election Concerns
NZCPR
NRL Predictions for Round 25
Stats Chat
Trans Group Admits They’re Not The Experts
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
Reader mailbag - prediction markets
Offsetting Behaviour
Yet more “pretty (il)legal” stuff from the Reserve Bank
Croaking Cassandra
THE WORKING FROM HOME RACKET BY PUBLIC SERVANTS
No Punches Pulled (Bob Jones)
The Accidental Engagement
Imperator Fish
Legal Beagle: Election '23: The Special Votes
Public Address
Get Vaccinated Tomorrow Or Shut Your Pie Hole
Cactus Kate
Making this movie might have been a mistake
Liam Hehir

[email protected]

PO Box 12270, Thorndon, Wellington 6144

Facebook
Twitter
FourSquare
Instagram
LinkedIn
Google+

Archives
Disclosure Statement
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Complaints Policy
Comments Policy

Design by cre8d

%d

Share this:

Like this: