About
Contact
Advertise

Facebook
Twitter

August 7, 2026 8:00am by Kokila Patel

General Debate 07 August 2026

Like this:

Like Loading…

Email
Facebook
Twitter
Comment196

Uncategorized
General Debate

Comments (196)

Login to comment or vote

Yvette

Unreleased review recommends Waitangi Tribunal keep key power
No matter who is in government after the election, the tribunal needs reform and a new mission, Tama Potaka says.
https://newsroom.co.nz/2026/08/06/unreleased-review-recommends-waitangi-tribunal-keep-key-power/?

RELEASE THE REPORT – BEFORE THE ELECTION
39 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:01am
- imalwaysright
  
  Article :
  “”Both Jones and Potaka say the delay in responding to the review, which reported back to ministers by the end of August last year, was because of prioritisation of other matters.
  
  “Obviously we prioritised the excise out of the law of random and gratuitous references to Treaty principles,” Jones says.””
  
  They have had the report for a year. If it said what they wanted to hear, its a fair bet that they would have released it immediately.
  
  Jones excuse about being busy excising Treaty references doesn’t hold water, they have plenty of staff and legal methods to get it done very quickly
  
  29 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:31am
  - RoboRob
    
    That’s absolute bullshit! There is no way that the coalition prioritised the removal of treaty references. They are slow walking the process and it is highly likely it wont be passed this term.
    
    Ghost to you still want to criticise me for being too impatient about this election promise? You still guaranteeing it will be passed this term because it is a coalition promise?
    
    27 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:17am
    - pdm
      
      The other point RR even if it is passed before the coming election is this.
      
      Will what they pass be what was voted for in 2023?
      
      I personally doubt it will even be close to what voters expected or wanted!!!
      
      20 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 9:32am
      - RoboRob
        
        Oh, no its nothing like what was promised. The promise was to remove treaty principles references from laws where it was not strictly required. This is a review of a limited set of laws (24?) and they are either leaving, removing or amending the wording. So its not at all what most people understood what was happening.
        
        We can also see why it has been slow walked and minimised. National are currently busy fighting Act and NZF to prevent the reduction of the Waitangi tribunals areas of interest. They also didn’t remove co governance, they have actually created a number of new co governance agreements.
        
        22 1
        Report
        August 7, 2026 9:41am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Rr
      Correct.
      
      The handful of Acts that require reference to the Treaty could have easily been cited as exceptions within a blanket declaration to remove references in all other Acts.
      
      And it wouldn’t be too difficult to, at the same time, remove references to ‘Maori’ in favour of ‘Person’.
      
      13 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 9:40am
    - R
      
      The Coalition can prioritize as much as it likes; this is an ideological administration matter. Where within the Public Service do you expect to find staff motivated to remove references shich may affect their DEI appointment?
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:56pm
      - RoboRob
        
        It’s always someone else’s fault isn’t it R. People don’t know where National stand, it’s not nationals fault its ‘they don’t know how to listen’ (your response yesterday).
        
        3 1
        Report
        August 7, 2026 4:43pm
- Simon
  
  “Waitangi Tribunal keep key power”
  
  It’s what the National party wants. It’s what NZ will get.
  
  17 3
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:39am
  - Cantabrian
    
    The Tribunal is the ‘Upper House’ envisaged by the He Puapua authors – get with the programme because it is coming whether we like it or not. Unless the Nats radically change their position.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 1:39pm
- David Lenny
  
  From the link: “ More broadly, Jones believes the tribunal is infringing on Parliament’s right to make laws and the right of voters to have the policies they vote for implemented.”
  
  Quite so. Not even real courts can determine policy, merely interpret unclear legislation.
  
  14 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:41am
- cmm (semi-retired edition)
  
  No matter who gets in, I will guarantee they don’t do what needs to be done – get rid of the Maori roll.
  
  Since the introduction of universal male suffrage (19 December 1879) there has been absolutely no reasonable justification for a Maori roll. That’s almost 150 years that nobody has had the balls to take it on.
  
  The current Labour and National parties won’t address it.
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 2:24pm
  - Albie
    
    Absolutely right. Luxon talking about a referendum on MMP and a 4 year term, but crickets on the Maori seats.
    
    9 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 2:45pm
- Steve Otto N Shore
  
  Who the hell is running this Country called New Zealand?
  Seems like the Maori minority!!!!! I thought VOTERS ran the Country!
  
  8 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 3:41pm
  - Quail
    
    SO,
    As mentioned yesterday the fault is largely that of MMP,
    Half the sitting politicians were not chosen at the ballot.
    So at the very best there is merely a 50/50 influence from NZ voters.
    MMP has destroyed any semblance of genuine democracy in NZ.
    It is the Bureaucracy that rules NZ !
    
    6 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 4:57pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      If you don’t like some people on a list, then don’t vote for that party. What’s hard about that?
      
      If someone else votes for the party whose list you don’t like that’s democracy in action. Even if those voters are deluded and the candidates are numpties …. Your view.
      
      If that leaves you with no party to vote for, get over it. Remember that MMP means – roughly – % of seats = % of vote. Explain why that is wrong … 🙂
      
      0 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 7:08pm
      - Quail
        
        IB,
        The quality of the party is set by the quality of the members.There must be standards.
        Take a look at some of past selections?
        Just one example , ( and there are many others ): Eugenie Sage , stood for the Ellesmere electorate ,received less than 20% of the cast votes ,yet got into Parliament on the Green list. She was then was appointed Minister for the Environment!
        So ,someone not wanted in their own electorate , (who would have known her best,) became a member of the NZ Cabinet
        IMHO , and any other reasonable opinion, would say this was totally undemocratic .
        The voters and NZ peoples intentions were totally disregarded.
        Voters were gamed by MMP!
        
        2 0
        Report
        August 7, 2026 9:13pm
      - Ian Boag
        
        @Quail
        
        Enough people gave the Greens their party vote. The basic idea is that 25000 votes is worth a seat in Parliament whether they are spread around the country or all in one place.
        
        If you don’t like a party, don’t vote for it.
        
        0 3
        Report
        August 8, 2026 7:33am
Frank the tank

Dear John Key,

I know you weren’t perfect but please come back.

The country needs you more than ever.

P.S. bring back your mate Steven J as well
31 13
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:13am
- Simon
  
  John Key was just bad as Luxon. The difference is that systemic harm over many years inflicted by the Wellington clown show results in a degraded NZ.
  
  NZ is so damaged that it is unable to carry the National party compared to NZ when Key was leading.
  
  19 23
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:38am
  - cmm (semi-retired edition)
    
    In some ways JK was worse. He was very good at setting the ball rolling.
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 2:25pm
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    SIMON for Prime Minister. He knows stuff right????
    
    2 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 3:43pm
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Sarcasm, right? Key got into bed with TMP, signed us up to UNDRIP, and what did he do to halt the long march through our institutions? The clueless Luxon is PM largely because of Key’s backing.
  
  18 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:43am
  - Bobba Fret
    
    It was a very different Maori party back when Key ‘got in to bed’ with them.
    
    14 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 10:27am
    - cmm (semi-retired edition)
      
      No, not really. The old Maori party were just a bit less obvious.
      
      6 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 2:26pm
      - Ra Henare
        
        You Jest of Course.!! Cmm
        
        Just a brief look at the leadership back then
        Tariana Turia
        Pita Sharples
        
        and the clown show now.
        Debbie Ngarewa-Packer
        Rawiri Waititi
        
        3 0
        Report
        August 7, 2026 3:38pm
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      Classic National Party cope. Turia and Flavell weren’t foul-mouthed louts like the present lot, but their agenda was exactly the same. Key fanboys seem keen to forget Turia’ encouragement of Maori teenagers to have babies on the taxpayer, and her claim of a Maori “holocaust”. As for Flavell, how do you like his pulling strings to get his delinquent nephew off the hook on grounds of “tikanga”? Great use of his mana, eh? TPM has always been a Maori supremacist party.
      
      9 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 2:27pm
- Benedict Yu
  
  Yesterday’s brain explosion over MMP was serious error in my opinion. It provides a perfect excuse for Winston to form a government with Labour post election. Let’s face it. Winston is quite capable of justifying most things if he has a mind to do so.
  
  If there is a change of government in 2023, I think that historians will identify two drivers..
  
  1. The economy. The damage caused by the last government was too much to turn around in three years. The Iran war was the last straw.
  
  2. Christopher Luxon.
  
  35 7
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:44am
  - Pope Punctilious II
    
    I think you’re on the money. The proviso is that Luxon’s blindsiding of his National colleagues might finally spur them into giving him The Black Spot. Or is it too late?
    
    13 6
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:00am
    - Jigsaw
      
      Never too late!
      
      2 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 11:41am
    - peterwn
      
      Too late – that would merely hand Labour and co the election on a plate.
      
      14 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 11:50am
  - crackle
    
    Tbh I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, he seems incapable of staying on message. He’s bacially handed the media a bat and said hit me please. Now the newscycle is about him wanting to change the electoral system, that his mp’s were blindsided and its because he cant control Winston.
    
    He’s not cut out to lead a polictical party he hasn’t got the ability to convey a consistent simple message and stay on point.
    
    23 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:04am
    - RoboRob
      
      Yes its all about the communications. I must say the MMP foot in mouth is still better then his attack on small business.
      
      13 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 9:42am
    - Scooter
      
      It’s sort of ironic that he cosies up to the MSM that love to portrait him in the worst light apart from Hosking. But then Luxon doesn’t even seem to listen to his critiques. There seems to be an arrogance there, maybe because he was boss of a few companies and is richer than your average politician. Whatever happens in Nov I don’t think NZ will have Chris Luxon as leader of National after the election, if they win he will resign soon after.
      
      8 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 10:56am
  - Ian Boag
    
    Get over yourselves.
    
    This is kite-flying. He’s the leader and has told us his opinion. He has not proclaimed it as party policy. Obviously the leader’s opinion carries some weight, but that’s all.
    
    26 10
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:20am
    - I remember when
      
      Steven Abel, on TV last night.
      “The last gasp of a drowning man.”
      
      Good lord, is he still in parliament – how quick we forget.
      
      14 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 9:36am
    - RoboRob
      
      ‘Yes we will look at holding a referendum in the first year of the next term’.
      
      Sounds like an election promise to me.
      
      13 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 9:43am
      - MCōs
        
        There’s two points here
        He doesn’t seem to have consulted anyone, least of all his list MPs such as Goldsmith, Willis, Brownlee who would be down the gurgler
        The referendum will never happen anyway because even if the Nats backed it nobody else would.
        It’s obviously an ill thought out shot at Winston who is probably worried for all the wrong reasons.
        The Nats should probably never have dumped Simon Bridges who only made one error of judgment
        
        14 1
        Report
        August 7, 2026 10:07am
      - RoboRob
        
        @MCos
        
        ‘Goldsmith, Willis, Brownlee’ will be down the gurgler anyway based on current polling.
        
        10 1
        Report
        August 7, 2026 10:29am
      - greybeard
        
        “we will look at holding a referendum…” is not a promise, just a statement of intent.
        Same as saying “we will look at reducing wasteful spending”.
        Why all the angst about Luxon ?
        
        7 2
        Report
        August 7, 2026 12:37pm
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      Based on his comments this morning it is policy.
      
      6 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 10:08am
      - Charlotte Wells
        
        At a National public meeting in Auckland’s Mount Roskill last night [Thursday], Luxon said the referendum would become National Party policy and would likely be held alongside a planned referendum on extending Parliament’s term to four years.
        
        https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/07/luxon-holds-firm-on-mmp-referendum-call-despite-cross-party-criticism/
        
        I have already decided to go all in for ACT. Every time he opines it confirms I have made the right decision.
        
        13 2
        Report
        August 7, 2026 12:22pm
  - RoboRob
    
    Wrong order, Luxon is the #1 issue. He is responsible for them meeting very few of their promises. Either he shouldn’t have promised or he should have delivered. Besides crime and education almost none of their promises have been fulfilled. I posted a list yesterday.
    
    Now for a big call…
    
    With his massive cock ups in the last two weeks I think there is now a 80%+ chance he is rolled in the next week and replaced by Stanford. I didn’t think so previously but I think it likely now, dependant on the curia poll results today. If Winston loses soem vote back to National he ‘may’ be saved.
    
    He is a dead man walking, but I think National has left it far too late.
    
    15 13
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:22am
    - MCōs
      
      Hospital pass, but politicians generally have inflated perceptions of have marvelous they would be at changing the direction of the Titanic
      Paul Henry would take the job on!
      
      6 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 10:14am
    - RoboRob
      
      Poll is out. He might be saved! Good result for Nats and bad for Labour.
      
      4 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:24pm
      - greybeard
        
        Does anyone really believe that 6% of NZ would vote for TOP, right now ?
        I certainly don’t.
        
        12 1
        Report
        August 7, 2026 12:41pm
  - Tomtoddy
    
    Luxon’s asset is his ability to hold the coalition together although that might be more about the small party’s determination to retain power.
    
    His liability is a lack of political nous and an inability to read the room. He is more fixated on trying to win votes he can never reach than consolidating the ones he already has. He is clearly getting poor advice on some issues. He has chosen a stance on some critical matters and clung to it arrogantly and wrongly.
    
    He tries to please too many people and when he occasionally puts his foot down he stomps the wrong thing at the wrong time with the wrong language.
    
    His off the cuff intuition is poor. He cannot help his looks but sometimes he signals uncertainty, sometimes arrogance, sometimes insincerity. Its clear many of his back benchers have already ditched him so he wont last after the election whichever way it goes. Some of the rural Nats are openly derisive.
    
    The tragedy is that it opens the way for the return of the worst government in our recent history run by incompetents and absurd ideologues. Hipkins is not saying much – he doesn’t need to and Winston will sacrifice him to get the top job even if its only for half a cycle.
    
    In the middle of all that the media continues to run everything it possibly can to undermine Luxon and the Coalition.
    
    29 7
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:23am
    - Taipan Pete
      
      Spot on, Tomtoddy. Fully agree, and it makes me pretty anxious about the upcoming election and the future.
      
      11 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 9:41am
    - I remember when
      
      “Hipkins is not saying much -”
      But Babara Edmonds is starting to get increased airtime.
      Little nibbly differences to National’s economic policies.
      Criticism of policies that are seemingly making life harder – at least in the short term.
      Enough of them will make it look as if Labour does have some answers.
      
      11 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 9:45am
      - R
        
        Labour and answers, surely an OXYMORON!
        
        5 0
        Report
        August 7, 2026 1:03pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Luxon has to realise that the only people who hate him more than TPM, is TPM…Te Pahti Media.
      
      But Christopher thinks they are just playing hard to get.
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 10:29am
    - Tomtoddy
      
      Downtickers have every right to use their prerogative. I am genuinely interested in how they may think Luxon is doing OK. I actually want him to stay on and for the situation to improve because getting the other lot is unthinkable.
      
      14 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 11:01am
  - R
    
    BY, your point 1. Is correct; pt2 is ideological.
    Most commentors on KB don’t seem to appreciate the damage Ardern/Hipkins and co did; nor the magnitude of the administration work required to isolate and remove the various embeded threads of the damage.
    The corrective action is not as simple as an piece of omnibus legislation covering ALL relevant ‘passed legislation’.
    
    11 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 10:50am
  - BeaB
    
    Winston has a pocketful of justifications. He’ll do whatever it needs to get the baubles.
    
    10 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 11:59am
  - Interested Party
    
    Beat up, if you are having a referendum on term length, why not include MMP. You are falling for the media trap of focussing on style rather than form – just for clicks
    
    7 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 12:15pm
  - Steve Otto N Shore
    
    You do know that Winstone First will never do that, right? But he knows the political bullshit in NZ more than most!
    
    2 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 3:45pm
  - Ra Henare
    
    With all due respect Benedict.
    Winston is in the same situation with Hipkins as he was with English.
    He doesn’t like Hipkins at a personal level.
    
    Winston is 81 years old. He will be looking for an easy life.
    
    bias. I have known Winston politically off and on since 1995.
    Whatever anyone might say, he is a very experienced and cunning buggar when it comes to politics. Like most human beings. He stuffs up from time to time. Yes, he has a big ego (as do all lasting politicians), and yes, he does have carisma for a section of the community who have met him.
    
    If you think he would choose Labour and a hard row to hoe. You are sadly mistaken.
    
    Think back. He chose Ardern because he thought English would be difficult.
    
    He thought he could control her. Sadly that didn’t turn out to be true, mainly due to the bloody virus.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 3:49pm
- kowtow
  
  Key was just another front man for the National behind the scenes , puppet master , power brokers.
  
  The same people who promoted Luxon and who like Luxon are simply not in touch with the National base or of the average NZ voter.
  
  The same people who got rid of Bridges and Bennet ,( too right wing /evangelical) but who were way more popular with the public than this Blue Suit Brigade.
  
  19 10
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:56am
  - rouppe
    
    And those people are…?
    
    10 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:18am
    - RoboRob
      
      It must be the Jews!
      
      3 9
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 9:23am
      - RoboRob
        
        That is sarcasm in case its not obvious.
        
        5 2
        Report
        August 7, 2026 2:34pm
    - keepcalmcarryon
      
      Banks, trucking industry, real estate industry, corporate farmers, construction
      
      3 3
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 9:26am
      - keepcalmcarryon
        
        Iwi.
        
        8 1
        Report
        August 7, 2026 11:55am
      - rouppe
        
        Why is providing the conditions in which these industries excel, and employ, a bad thing?
        
        Judging by the protests from those belonging to your follow up comment, I’d very much doubt iwi feels they are puppet matters.
        
        1 0
        Report
        August 7, 2026 6:11pm
    - kowtow
      
      No idea .But they exist .
      
      rr ; Though that might be in jest , I suspect it’ll be along the Finlayson /Bolger axis .Catholic , republican, landed farmer / city elite progressive types .
      
      It’s real and it involves kowtowing to big business , big Maori elite interests.
      
      As an aside yesterday on the Platform ,discussion between Seymour and Plunket , it transpires National still wanted to keep unequal health treatment policies based on ethnicity .
      
      I rest my case.
      
      8 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 10:46am
      - R
        
        Your faith in Seymours credibility is bit misplaced. He is on something of an ego run at the moment
        
        1 5
        Report
        August 7, 2026 1:08pm
    - Taieri
      
      And those people are…?
      ———-
      
      Bildeberg, Fish and Game, Rosicrucians, WEF, Freemasons, QAnon, Mongrel Mob, Plunket Society, Rotary…etc. etc. …
      
      Take your pick…
      
      3 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:23pm
  - plc
    
    You obviously don’t know John Key….he wasn’t a front man for anybody.
    
    From the mid 80s when he was at Elders Merchant Finance, being Prime Minister was on his bucket list.
    
    He unlocked the achievement. The end was the goal.
    
    10 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:34am
    - kowtow
      
      The answer is in whoever parachuted him in to be the PM , cos he didn’t come from caucus and nor did Luxon who strangely was almost literally ‘anointed” by Key .
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 4:01pm
  - I remember when
    
    Bridges – those that are saying that National went along with Labour’s Covid policies seem to forget how his criticism caused his popularity to spiral downwards.
    With hind sight, if National had supported him, they may have become the second single party government under MMP.
    
    15 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:51am
  - MCōs
    
    I didn’t particularly like John Key’s politics, but he was undoubtedly a superb politician, I thought. After all he kept winning elections and would have won again in 2017, no question.
    But that’s all in the past now
    
    13 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 10:18am
    - Reg Perrin
      
      I wonder if the difference is Luxon was managing a Monopoly where Key came from a cut throat Corporate Finance environment where to rise to a postilion of power required ruthlessness and playing internal politics
      
      8 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 10:38am
      - Graeme Hall
        
        Key’s secret in life is to copy what successful people do. He did it in investing and he did it in politics. When it looked like he would have to work with a an empty charlatan like Winston he cut and ran.
        
        4 3
        Report
        August 7, 2026 12:03pm
      - Hard Cheese
        
        I think it’s more simple than that – Key had a little bit of charisma, Luxon has none.
        
        6 0
        Report
        August 7, 2026 1:49pm
      - crash
        
        Key became opposition leader in his second term as an MP, PM at the beginning of his third term. Luxon became opposition leader in his first term as an MP, PM at the beginning of his second.
        
        Key had a better grasp on politics and more time as a backbencher to learn to breath through his nose, with leaders like English and Brash. Luxon is not any where close to matching Key’s abilities.
        
        2 0
        Report
        August 7, 2026 4:18pm
    - Pope Punctilious II
      
      No doubt, a superb politician. And what did he do with his huge political capital? All too many people seem to think the purpose of the National Party is to keep Labour out. That’s all!
      
      12 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 11:09am
- Graeme Hall
  
  Yes bring back Steve and John. The same old blokes that brought us to our present state. Nothing like a couple of soothing mellifluous voices intent on not rocking the boat, do nothing about racial divisions, talking down democracy, and avoiding economic reforms like the plague to pull us right back to first nation status while they hang onto the levers of power.
  
  19 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:07am
David George

What the hell is happening to our once respected institutions?
Not that there’s any shortage of examples but this Cambridge University fiasco takes the biscuit – so far anyway.

They had this diversity hire professor that literally lied about everything and was believed because he is black. Black Lies Matter.

This isn’t some half arse college, this is Cambridge University, home to Sir Isaac Newton, that would rather believe a lie than fearlessly face the truth. If only this was some sort of an aberration we wouldn’t need to be too concerned; this is how civilisations collapse.
53 3
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:19am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  The rot extends well beyond Cambridge.
  Clearly Arday was not well supervised with his Ph.D. study back at Liverpool John Moores University.
  
  He seems to have been handled with kid gloves by the university and police for the last year or so when it was becoming evident that his research was dodgy and his claims for authorship/fund-raising/running/ university positions/harassment were fabulations.
  
  https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rd9y99grzo
  
  29 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:56am
  - kowtow
    
    The rot is very very deep as you say and it extends to their judiciary , parliament , military , church , police , CPS, National Trust , the Crown itself …..the lot.
    
    The Post Master scandal was said to have been the greatest miscarriage of justice .Yet the Lucy Letby conviction is arguably another and bubbling along , a scapegoat for their lefty vaunted NHS .
    
    And they can’t even control their border ……more human rights /equality tosh.
    
    Almost ,if not actually, a failed state .
    
    26 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:05am
  - slijmbal
    
    @Maggy
    
    the John Moores University is not exactly a decent university. It is one of the converted polytechnics and rated well behind the real Liverpool University for instance, which itself would be 3rd tier in the UK behind the Bristols and Durhams (ahead of NZ universities though).
    
    Going from there to an elite university professorship is highly unusual /sarc.
    
    This is ironic as Oxbridge still doesn’t let many white working class blokes in but seems to have gone full woke on DEI otherwise.
    
    16 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 10:01am
    - Maggy Wassilieff
      
      Yep,
      
      Someone at LJMUni didn’t check if Arday could spell, let alone know the difference between a plural and a possessive… (His Ph.D. thesis title is incorrectly punctuated).
      
      Looks like short-cuts have been taken by everyone involved with promoting this person.
      
      https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/aug/06/jason-arday-cambridge-dons-demand-accountability-grotesque-racism
      
      7 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:58pm
  - Philview
    
    There is a good interview on the Brink (Andrew Fox version) podcast today discussing the large increase in student numbers at Cambridge diluting the value of what they do. Also a lot of Chinese money flowing in.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 2:21pm
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Check out Eric Rasmusen’s latest piece (on substack) on who hired Jason Arday.
  
  10 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 10:00am
- MCōs
  
  Cambridge University is not our institution.
  I thought we were supposed to leave all that behind and assimilate to the culture of this country.
  
  Someone yesterday grizzled about how immigrants don’t assimilate.
  
  3 15
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 10:26am
  - imalwaysright
    
    “Someone yesterday grizzled about how immigrants don’t assimilate.”
    
    No Mcos, the comments were about immigrants who won’t assimilate.
    
    13 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 10:34am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Nowadays research and tertiary education are conducted across international frontiers.
    
    If we can’t trust the quality of research papers and PhD theses coming out from one institution or discipline, then it casts a shadow across the work of others in that research field.
    
    Arday’s research is in the field of critical race theory in education… definitely a topic of interest to NZ educators and social scientists.
    
    14 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 11:24am
  - David George
    
    Cambridge University is one of OUR civilisation’s important institutions.
    Over 800 years worth of truth seeking brilliance chucked on the DEI bonfire.
    
    19 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 11:32am
    - Jack5
      
      In science and technology American universities MIT, Stanford, and California Institute of Technology (Caltech), have left Cambridge and Oxford behind.
      
      Now Chinese universities are shooting ahead. That’s in the land awakened after centuries of technology sleep. Before that China gave us paper, printing, gunpowder.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:55pm
- mogg
  
  It means nothing, will be given away in MMP negotiations and Winston will think he has won something.
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 11:00am
- Jimbo666
  
  Which college hired him? There are about 30 which comprise the university!
  
  3 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 11:09am
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Jesus
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 2:55pm
Cassandra

Melanie Phillips is no shrinking violet when it comes to defending Israel’s interests. But having said that, she has some sound advice for President Trump.

Iran is run by fanatics whose endgame is destruction of the West (and East ie Sunnis, for that matter) and substituting a Shia Caliphate.

To Iran negotiating is something you do to delay and obstruct your opponent.

The Iranian leadership has an infinite tolerance for pain.

The only solution is regime change by force. If not now then when? And who will do it?

European won’t even do much about Hormuz right now. America is divided and the midterms loom. This sorry situation is going to last for ages.
43 6
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:24am
- KKNZ2025
  
  Who’s country is it?
  
  3 13
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:32am
  - David George
    
    Iran belongs to the Iranian people yearning for freedom, the people that have been subject to this brutal, fanatical, fascist regime for 47 years.
    I can’t help wondering what any of us would do faced with their choices. Put our lives in great and certain danger for freedom? Remain slaves to tyranny?
    God bless their mighty struggle.
    
    35 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:26am
    - KKNZ2025
      
      Democracy is a habit that forms when enough people say “no, they can’t do that”. It needs to develop from within a country. How many times has the US attempted to impose it on other countries & when have they ever succeeded?
      
      Tom Petty said it best: “you don’t have to live like a refugee”
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 10:35am
      - David George
        
        That’s pretty much what Melanie said – support the beleaguered people of that benighted country to free themselves from tyranny. The essay is free to read:
        https://melaniephillips.substack.com/p/my-message-to-centcom
        
        4 0
        Report
        August 7, 2026 1:51pm
    - kowtow
      
      Too right.
      
      And the hangings are ramping up , silence from the usual suspects.
      
      10 2
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 10:49am
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  “ The Iranian leadership has an infinite tolerance for pain of their citizens”.
  
  30 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:53am
  - R
    
    Correct. The terrorist Revolutionary Guard army leadership and their ayotolas, couldn’t care less about the original inhabitants of now called Iran- the Persian people
    
    11 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 11:07am
    - Don Beckett
      
      Correct. They are executing around 1,000 plus each month.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 1:40pm
- David George
  
  Yes, Melanie Phillips understands what we’re dealing with. Negotiating with Iran is pointless.
  Link to her essay How America can get out of its fix over Iran: https://melaniephillips.substack.com/p/my-message-to-centcom
  
  13 6
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 8:56am
  - Jack5
    
    It’s easy to advocate total victory in Iran, but that can be only achieved ultimately by Army boots on the ground.
    
    That would take hundreds of thousands of American foot soldiers, and scores of thousands of casualties. Will Americans accept that?
    
    Britain maintained power in the Middle East by diplomatically negotiating alliances big and small, and by using colonial foot soldiers for much of the slaughter: Indians in the case of Iraq. Britain could also draw on Africans, Arab allies, Somalis, and others with the then substantial British Army as the core.
    
    Rockets and other air power won’t do the job alone. Think of the V2’s. And the vast Allied bombing of Germany. It still took the Red Army to take Berlin.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 1:07pm
  - mike
    
    Her rant says nothing about how to achieve regime change.
    
    3 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 1:22pm
  - Hard Cheese
    
    What a stupid essay. Just remove the IRGC, nothing to suggest how one would achieve that. Even saying “wave a magic wand” would be more of a solution than she provides.
    
    3 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 1:56pm
- mike
  
  But isn’t Donald Trump close to making a deal?
  
  2 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 1:21pm
  - Don Beckett
    
    Seriously, not literraly.
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 1:40pm
KKNZ2025

Are the NZ Police now becoming “an absolute joke”?

Thumbs up – yes
Thumbs down- no

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361016518/absolute-joke-business-owner-buys-back-stolen-gear-after-police-delay
16 3
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:34am
Yvette

Waitangi Tribunal’s mandate – the unreleased Report
Reporting around the Review highlights political friction among the coalition partners (National, ACT, and NZ First) regarding the Waitangi Tribunal’s mandate. While ACT and NZ First have advocated for narrowing or restricting the Tribunal’s scope and powers, the advisory group’s recommendations reportedly favour retaining key powers. Because the coalition parties have differing stances on how to handle the Tribunal’s jurisdiction, the report remains unreleased while discussions and negotiations take place within the government.

Surely information on National, ACT, and NZ First’s political friction in attitude to Waitangi Tribunal mandate and function is of some importance in the way Voters vote

Just like a referendum on MMP, may be some random “journalist” could ask Luxon about the Report and see if he has another “brain fart” – excuse the language
16 4
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:39am
- RoboRob
  
  Interesting that NZF and Act want to reduced the tribunals scope and National obviously want to keep or expand it. Really shows why issues like co governance and treaty principles haven’t been dealt with.
  
  18 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:30am
  - pdm
    
    RR never overlook that Luxon is in awe of all things Maori.
    
    To support that he has two Ministers that I call `his little helpers’ in Potaka and Goldsmith – both of whom are in key positions when it comes to Waitangi Tribunal changes.
    
    In addition Winston will always do what gets the best mileage for Winston, especially at this time in the election cycle, so who knows for sure which way he will jump.
    
    18 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:44am
    - imalwaysright
      
      Seymour told Plunket on the Platform that National opposed his work to remove racial preference when prescribing certain medications.
      
      Plunket was told he could get effective diabetes drugs if he paid $10k per year, but if he was Maori they would be free.
      
      Seymour has fixed the issue.
      
      18 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 10:07am
- Maggy Wassilieff
  
  Surely information on National, ACT, and NZ First’s political friction in attitude to Waitangi Tribunal mandate and function is of some importance in the way Voters vote
  
  Some information (like Labour’s He Puapua report) is deemed too contentious for the voting public. Clearly our dear leaders think it is better to keep us uninformed, ill-informed and mis-informed.
  
  20 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:43am
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    Mushrooms we are.
    
    8 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 10:12am
- Libertarians are right
  
  They need to throw Sir Hugh Kawerau’s worthless treaty translation into the toilet and flush it. Unless they do that, any power given to the Waitangi Tribunal is going to be misused.
  
  In Article One, he minismised Governance, completely ignoring Katoa (total).
  
  In Article Two, he applied Katoa with regards to Taonga to mean whatever Maori want it to mean (so basically, Katoa is super important and wide ranging when applied to Maori power but meaningless when applied to Crown power).
  
  In Article Three, he literally said that Maori had no idea what the obligations of British citizens were and it should therefore be ignored and it should simply reinforce his translation of Article Two.
  
  This is the starting point that the Waitangi Tribunal uses and it’s always going to result in biased results.
  
  15 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 10:15am
  - Cantabrian
    
    Absolutely. The translation by Kawerau comes from an informal document produced by James Freeman . It does not follow the real English draft of the Treaty. If the Littlewood document were to be accepted, there could be no dispute over the translation and no need for the ridiculous position of have two diverging ‘official’ versions.
    But Maori will never allow the Kawerau version to be replaced, as to do so would disrail the gravy train.
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 1:45pm
  - Yvette
    
    Libertarians are right, I am intrigued that you mention the word ‘katoa’ meaning ‘all’ or ‘total’
    The entire nation seems to be brain-washed that the fundamental difference in understanding the Treaty of Waitangi stems from two key Māori terms used to translate British concepts of power and authority: the English “sovereignty” was translated as kāwanatanga (governorship), while “undisturbed possession” was paired with a guarantee of tino rangatiratanga (total chieftainship/self-determination).
    
    The term used in the te reo Māori text, ‘kawanatanga’, was a transliteration of the word ‘governance’, then in current use. Māori understanding of this word came from familiar use in the New Testament of the Bible (when referring to the likes of Pontius Pilate), and from their knowledge of the role of the Governor of New South Wales, whom they referred to as ‘Kawana’. [1]
    
    … te Kuini o Ingarani ake tonu atu-te Kawanatanga katoa o o ratou wenua. [2]
    Schedule 1 The Treaty of Waitangi
    
    The word ‘all’ should have led Maori to inquire what ‘kawanatanga’ was, applying to them ‘all’, especially because it was obviously different to ‘rangatiratanga’ which featured in the 1835 Declaration of Independence, signed by the “Chiefs of the Confederation of the United Tribes of New Zealand” and the separate and independent Chiefs who have not become members of the Confederation
    
    “That’s ‘all’, folks”
    
    ________________
    [1] https://www.waitangitribunal.govt.nz/en/about/the-treaty/about-the-treaty
    [2] https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1975/114/en/latest/#DLM435834
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 2:11pm
  - Paulus
    
    It has been said that the Waitangi Tribunal has some 3,500 recomendations awaiting approval of the Government, and they expect one day they will be all be enacted in Law.
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 2:13pm
NeverMindTheBollocks

It’s interesting to see how many immigrants from across Asia consider themselves worthy of the honour of representing all New Zealanders in our parliament. Which is not to overlook those from the Americas or elsewhere.

How is it that so many who have, in the immortal words of The Right Honourable Winston Peters, only been here five minutes think that they understand the history, culture and aspirations of all New Zealanders such that they are better qualified to legislate for our lives than their locally born peers?

I wouldn’t have the nerve.

http://www.rnz.co.nz/news/indonz-featured/903375/asian-candidates-eye-larger-representation-in-parliament
14 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:48am
- Taieri
  
  they are better qualified to legislate for our lives than their locally born peers
  ————
  
  You may not like it. I may not like it. But ultimately, it is up to the electorate to decide whether they are or not.
  When an immigrant becomes a NZ citizen, there’s no set probationary time, before he/she acquires all the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, including the right to stand for a public office. As there shouldn’t be.
  
  9 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 10:57am
  - Graeme Hall
    
    Don’t the Australian’s require you to be born in Australia before you can stand for their Parliament?
    
    I’d certainly support that here. We have seen a rogues’ gallery of unsavoury characters, spy masters, fakes, fraudsters and thieves infiltrate our Parliament from elsewhere.
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 5:51pm
  - NeverMindTheBollocks
    
    With MMP, it’s the Parties that select the List position of their MPs. Once the Greens hit 5%, we the voters get no say over whether March gets elected.
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 6:13pm
- pdm
  
  Bollocks if a heap of them get elected it is going to piss Winston off in a big way.
  
  I bet there are none on the NZFirst list when it comes out.
  
  8 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 10:57am
- rouppe
  
  I notice that it’s not uncommon for a “spokesperson” for organisations giving an interview on TV to have a north American or British accent.
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 6:19pm
Sir Cullen's Sidekick

Luxon has lost it completely. He is doing more damage to National than Labour.
19 13
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:49am
- RoboRob
  
  This has been true the entire term, are you just catching on now 🙂
  
  18 6
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:31am
  - Jack5
    
    Roborob – so you want a Centre-Left coalition government? You and Sir Cullen’s Sidekick.
    Jeez.
    
    That’s the only conclusion after acknowledging you are not as crazy as that fool who agitated against Bridge and brought us the Muller disaster.
    
    1 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 1:14pm
    - RoboRob
      
      No, I have said it over and over again. The reason I am critical is that I DONT want a more left wing government. Thats where we are heading with Luxon and co at the helm.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 4:45pm
  - Paulus
    
    From the day he was elected as Leader the women of New Zealand have gone out of their way to denigrate everythiung he does and says.
    And their friendly media agree with them consistently.
    Statistically it has been for some years the women of New Zealand who determine the election and this time again they will get what they want more easily.
    
    4 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 2:17pm
imalwaysright

Its August.
Who will replace Luxon?
9 9
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:52am
- Spam
  
  It would translate as “Ides of September” in the southern hemisphere, wouldn’t it?
  
  11 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:03am
  - Jimbo666
    
    The 15th of September is 6 weeks before the elections so you may be right. Enough time to promote a new leader?
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 11:12am
    - Paulus
      
      From the media it must be a Woman !
      
      3 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 2:18pm
- Gravelroad
  
  Bring back Buck!
  (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.)
  
  15 5
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:12am
  - pdm
    
    At least you always knew what Buck stood for.
    
    8 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:46am
- RoboRob
  
  Stanford appears to be making a play. I am not sure if she is ready for the role but has to be better then Luxon.
  
  10 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:32am
  - imalwaysright
    
    Some people get that boost in confidence they need just by being appointed.
    
    I think she will do very well.
    
    5 3
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 9:49am
  - Yabster
    
    maybe but if her education is anything to go by- I am not so sure……
    
    Erica Stanford holds a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland, majoring in Political Science and minoring in Māori Studies
    
    Prefer Simeon Brown myself.
    
    Education: Completed conjoint Law and Commerce degrees at the University of Auckland.
    
    17 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 11:25am
    - RoboRob
      
      Apparently (according to HDPA) Stanford is on the left of National (like most of the top ministers). I think she is great in education and is strong and forceful. She also communicates well.
      
      I don’t think we would see much / any change in the culture wars area from present. Who knows.
      
      Certainly she would be a better leader if only to stop votes migrating to the left and keeping Labour out.
      
      Simeon is on the right (apparently) so likely is in the minority in National. Probably would struggle to get the support for a leadership challenge.
      
      10 4
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:02pm
      - Jack5
        
        🥱 Roborob, tell us what you’re for rather than what you’re against.
        
        Veteran Parliamentary reporter Barry Soper has a book out, One Last Question, Prime Minister.
        
        Helen Clark and John Key are among his choices of effective leaders, with Clark the top performer.
        
        Soper says he holds Chris Luxon in high regard, but:
        
        “The major reason he hasn’t achieved anything close to universal support is the public believed in the lead-up to the 2023 election that, if he were to be elected, things sould change overnight. The country was fiscally in such a parlous stat that to turn the economy around was the political equivalent of turning round an oil tanker. It’s going to take time.”
        
        Soper suggest significant criticism of Luxon has come from the cut back public servant sector in Wellington.
        
        “Public servants in Wellington are naturally pissed off with Luxon, but cutting was essential,” writes Soper.
        
        Mmm. Are some of the blog’s Luxon haters from Wellington?
        
        6 0
        Report
        August 7, 2026 1:30pm
      - kowtow
        
        J5
        
        What cut back public servants .
        
        5 1
        Report
        August 7, 2026 4:20pm
      - RoboRob
        
        @Jack5
        
        Yesterday I listed Nationals policies from last election. That is what I am for. I am upset they didn’t act on most of them.
        
        I would take Key OR Clark back in a heartbeat over either of the Chris’s.
        
        I am from Christchurch 🙂
        
        5 1
        Report
        August 7, 2026 4:48pm
    - Taieri
      
      James Brendan Bolger didn’t hold any degree at all. It never stopped him from becoming the PM.
      He was the last one without the university education, but there’re many like him before.
      
      There’re plenty presidents and prime ministers around the world holding PhDs. Many of them are hopeless.
      
      7 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:55pm
- keepcalmcarryon
  
  They should parachute in someone who embodies what National really stand for in 2026 maybe Tipene Oreagan.
  
  6 4
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:37am
  - imalwaysright
    
    John Tamihere?
    
    4 4
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 12:09pm
  - Quail
    
    Kcco
    Don’t you mean Stephen?
    
    5 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 1:14pm
Jethrod

Can anyone tell me what the Kantar/Consumerlink poll was about?
I’m over 75,male, live outside Auckland and don’t have anyone 18 to 29 in the household
5 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 9:09am
- mogg
  
  Every university and government run institution in UK has numerous Jason Ardays hanging around.
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 11:07am
  - Taieri
    
    Plenty of them in NZ as well.
    
    5 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 3:41pm
rouppe

Another stabbing in Auckland.

Is it just me or is this becoming more frequent?
8 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 9:25am
- imalwaysright
  
  Have the cops said its an ‘isolated incident’ yet?
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:51am
  - Graeme Hall
    
    With HH St John run off its wheels.
    
    1 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 5:40pm
rouppe

I’m in Ohakune skiing, staying in my caravan.

Water froze in the pipes last night. The water bottle in my car door had turned into a slushie.

Another blue sky day on the slopes though. But weather is coming…
14 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 9:27am
- Tauhei Notts
  
  Is the Powder Keg still the best pub in Ohakune?
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 10:32am
  - rouppe
    
    Well it’s still open, so there’s that.
    
    I haven’t been in, actually. Rather drink a $4 can than a $12-14 handle.
    
    If there was a rugby game on, then I’d probably go. What time are the South African games playing here?
    
    7 1
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 11:15am
    - Colville
      
      5am tomorrow I think.
      
      3 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:27pm
    - Charlotte Wells
      
      Stormers v All Blacks coverage starts at 0415 on Saturday morning on Sky.
      
      Full replay at 0745, 1130, and 1600 Saturday.
      
      2 1
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:34pm
    - rouppe
      
      Public service announcement.
      
      You can get a free sky sport now day pass to watch the stormers game live by going to
      skysportnow.co.nz/daypass
      
      If you don’t already have an account I’d probably do that first.
      
      It’s a one – off. Other than that you can watch delayed coverage on tv3 or stream on ThreeNow.
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 7:12pm
ISeeRed

I have a lot of time for Simon Bridges.
15 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 9:30am
Ian Boag

In the middle of the MMP kerfuffle and the “I hate Luxon more than you do” contests …. did anyone notice that the CAA is flexing its muscles.

Air NZ has sent some trainee pilots offshore to get US Commercial Licences because there is apparently a shortage of capacity for training them in NZ or something like that.

So when they come back with their brand new FAA CPL, CAA decrees that it is not up to NZ standards and they will need more training here? Wot? A bunch of bureaucrats in Welly decree that a CPL from the FAA is not acceptable? …. We lead the world yet again – FAA standards dont’t all cut it here – we are safer than the Americans. Makes me proud to be a Kiwi.

It would be cool to see the name(s) on the bottom of whatever internal document came up with this nonsense. 🙂
12 2
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 10:24am
- imalwaysright
  
  Yet American, Indian, Egyptian, German, Malay… pilots can enter NZ airspace, land, taxi, take off, and exit.
  
  These organisations are strangling NZ.
  Same happens in Health, Education, Trades, Engineering etc.
  
  They create their little fiefdoms and stand guard on the rickety drawbridge.
  
  11 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 10:42am
- Dudley Quaffquaff
  
  In fairness, Wellington and Queenstown are difficult landings that probably do need specialist training
  
  7 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 10:58am
  - imalwaysright
    
    The flight approach plans for all airports are published and aren’t outside normal pilot capability.
    
    3 2
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 12:00pm
  - Charlotte Wells
    
    Queenstown certainly is. Pilots have to be certified for that airport.
    
    6 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 12:36pm
    - imalwaysright
      
      Yes, my previous post is wrong.
      
      4 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 12:53pm
    - Ian Boag
      
      Airport Separate CAA licence? Airline-specific qualification?
      Wellington No Yes
      Queenstown No Yes (more extensive)
      
      Not an endoresment of the licence …..
      
      1 0
      Log in to Reply
      Report
      August 7, 2026 1:40pm
  - rouppe
    
    Pfft.
    
    I’ve landed at Lukla. Where the runway is on a slope to facilitate slowing down on landing and speeding up on takeoff. The approach end terminates in a cliff. No second chances.
    
    And in November I’ll be landing in Paro.
    https://youtu.be/aYU2uAsRZ6E?si=hR2QF3CFJzW2pts9
    Hard left turn at 200ft to line up.
    
    Not as pilot, you understand, which sometimes is more stressful…
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 6:33pm
- Jimbo666
  
  FAA restrict CPL’s to 60 years of age. In NZ they can fly on much longer. I’d think the FAA has a much better grip on abilities!
  
  4 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 11:15am
- Southern Raider
  
  I think the CAA official position will be that FAA trained pilots not meet the necessary cultural awareness and cultural safety requirements to operate a plane in NZ.
  
  Imagine if one of them inadvertently announced to the passengers “and if your sitting on the right hand side of the plane you will be able to see Mt Egmont”
  
  15 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 11:15am
- Taieri
  
  A Filipino master can bring any size foreign flag vessel into New Zealand waters and ports, be it container, tanker or passenger.
  The very same Filipino master wouldn’t be allowed to sail in any position on a New Zealand flagged 30 metres long vessel on the basis of his/her Philippines issued certificate of competency.
  
  5 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 12:50pm
mogg

When Spectator magazine asked Rod Liddle if he could find other words to replace his compulsive use of the F-word he suggested the C-word.
9 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 11:10am
- Graeme Hall
  
  Rod is a great loss. Made politics humorous. Very articulate. Unafraid to express his views and entertaining. Also, surprisingly, not “far-right” or even right-wing.
  
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DvmZ-LFHSI
  
  0 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 5:36pm
rouppe

Angry scenes in the UK with respect to lone, male, fighting age asylum seekers.

Thetford is about 5km north of Barnham, in neighbouring Suffolk, where the Home Office has earmarked a former RAF base to house 1250 lone male asylum seekers.

That’s basically two battalions.
11 2
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 11:36am
- imalwaysright
  
  Two battalions of guerrillas….
  Very dangerous.
  
  4 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 11:56am
- kowtow
  
  Oh the sad terrible irony.
  
  RAF bases that saw off the Nazi invasion threat now host to a very modern but literal invasion.
  
  4 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 3:55pm
Taieri

And the Madness continues:

“The Human Rights Commission is calling for a human rights and Te Tiriti-centred approach to artificial intelligence and digital technologies”

https://www.odt.co.nz/business/commission-calls-for-human-rights-centred-te-tiriti-focus-to-ai-w9q6zlsy
9 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 12:44pm
newview

Apparently new Curia poll is out but their own website not updated. Had to check the news
4 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 12:56pm
- Hugh Jarse
  
  Party Support and changes
  National: 31.0% (up 0.5 points, 40 seats)
  Labour: 27.8% (down 3.7 points, 36 seats)
  Green Party: 10.1% (down 0.3 points, 13 seats)
  New Zealand First: 9.1% (down 1.7 points, 12 seats)
  ACT: 7.3% (up 0.4 points, 9 seats)
  Opportunity Party (TOP): 6.1% (up 2.8 points, 8 seats)
  Te Pāti Māori: 1.5% (down 1.9 points, 2 seats)
  Preferred Prime Minister:
  Christopher Luxon: 23.2% (up 4.1 points)
  Chris Hipkins: 19.8% (down slightly / up 0.6 points depending on tracking)
  
  6 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 4:37pm
  - Ian Boag
    
    Back at the old 61-59 seat thing. Someone once suggested that the number of seats should be odd so a tie couldn’t happen. Seems like a good thought to me.
    
    3 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 7:14pm
imalwaysright

Another timber mill to close.
That’s seven under the current government. It doesn’t mean they are to blame, more likely the previous Regime is the fault.

But why is the Public Service not seeing job cuts?

Especially MBIE.
9 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 1:07pm
- Ian Boag
  
  They are all losing money – how did the previous government make that happen?
  
  Don’t blame it on the cost of power because with a privatised system that is not the government’s problem. Current government has not volunteered to get involved ….
  
  It’s not that I have a solution but I don’t see how government can do anything about it. Thankyou Max Bradford ….
  
  0 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 7:51pm
imalwaysright

The Lefties talk about DEI.

DIE is an equally valid acronym that also has the advantage of being an initialism…

Maybe DIE is too close to the truth.
4 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 1:13pm
Southern Raider

Just opened up my rates notice. Last page has a section on rate rebates and lists about 6 different Māori specific exemptions for paying rates.

How are Māori treated poorly when
– get access to major rates rebates no other citizen, business or landowner can
– get specific tax rates no other citizen, business or landowner can
– gets specific appointments and funding mechanisms no other citizen, business or landowner can

I know a lot of effort goes into calculating and publicising the size of the “Māori economy”. Has any work been done on determining the size of the “Māori subsidy”?
9 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 1:50pm
- kowtow
  
  If the so called maori economy is so gangbusters then they too should have no excuse for not paying rates , like the rest of us long suffering Plebs.
  
  9 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 4:16pm
Crafty

No doubt the media will be hounding Chris Hipkins on whether he will be rolled because of the polls like they have Luxon. No?
9 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 3:04pm
Hugh Jarse

Can anyone point me to the media articles screaming for Hipkins resignation?, discussing who will replace him etc?
7 1
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 3:05pm
- Colville
  
  dont hold your breath waiting…
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 10:11pm
Maggy Wassilieff

RNZ is ditching the Susie – Mihingarangi combo on Sat Mornings.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/media-insider/media-insider-rnz-saturday-morning-to-get-single-new-host/JN7KBRKQXFGYDJHNCAA5XJGTT4/

I found them both as dull as dish-water and as I’d long departed from listening to the oh-so predictable Kim Hill, I’m not feeling too confident that I’ll be tuning in for long.
5 3
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 3:15pm
- Grumpy Silver Top
  
  Perhaps they will appoint an intelligent, informed and articulate man. That’s going to be a hard call! Are there any left in radio journalism?
  
  4 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 4:08pm
- Pope Punctilious II
  
  Both gone in one fell swoop? There is a God after all … maybe.
  
  5 1
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 4:22pm
  - Maggy Wassilieff
    
    Both gone in one fell swoop?
    
    I very much doubt that either will be gone….just lying in wait to re-emerge in some other warm and cosy format.
    
    4 0
    Log in to Reply
    Report
    August 7, 2026 5:29pm
- Graeme Hall
  
  I’d settle for a host that spoke English. These two wahines competed to be most incoherent tangata in the motu.
  
  4 2
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 5:28pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  I looked at the Herald photo and honestly to God couldn’t work out which one was the Maori and which was the Pakeha.
  
  2 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 6:19pm
BananaLlama

NZ Media may come to regret promoting TOP they are completely hollowing out the Labour party
2 0
Log in to Reply
Report
August 7, 2026 8:04pm
- NeverMindTheBollocks
  
  The magic of MMP!
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:32pm
- Colville
  
  Funny eh? 🙂
  
  1 0
  Log in to Reply
  Report
  August 7, 2026 9:56pm

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Login to comment or vote

« Polling House effects

Upper Hutt Mayor calls police on critics »

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

"The Bill’s rhetorical appeal rests on the idea that it targets under-16s. Its mechanism does not."
Not PC
If you vote ACT – you’re racist! If you vote NZF – you’re a culture war cooker & if you vote National you’re empowering racists & cookers
The Daily Blog
The Malthusian Temptation and the Case for Human Flourishing
No Minister
New Zealand needs asset recycling to fund its infrastructure future
Point of Order
Open Mike 27/08/2026
The Standard
FAA Moves to Exempt Commercial Rocket Launches From Key Environmental Reviews
Utopia
So when is he resigning?
No Right Turn
Word of the day
Hompaddock
Some recent social media snippets (mine).
Kiwipolitico
NRL Predictions for Round 26
Stats Chat
An economics without trade-offs
Offsetting Behaviour
Election Concerns
NZCPR
Trans Group Admits They’re Not The Experts
Bob McCoskrie's McBlog
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
Why I am retiring from political blogging
Kiwi FireWalker

[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: