Mike Butler

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Willie’s Tricky Maori Engagement

It looks like the Minister of Maori Development Willie Jackson has just visited the next stop on the He Puapua roadmap to achieve, by 2040, two overlapping governments in New Zealand, one for Maori and the other for everyone else. While doing so, he is denying that the He Puapua plan is the plan.


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Are you OK with two governments under tribal rule?

Are you OK with a radical plan for two governments in New Zealand, one for Maori and one for everyone else, to be up and running within the next 19 years? With Nanaia Mahuta at the helm, the plan is being slipped into the system, under the radar.


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What Twyford tenancies could do

Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford has announced 14 reform proposals, but the two that will make properties unmanageable for some, and this includes Housing New Zealand, are the end of 90-day no-reason terminations and the requirement to allow dogs.


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Meth, evidence, govt failure

The big methamphetamine clean-up scam that was spectacularly busted last week is a story of a government’s failure to use evidence to create policy. It is also a story of politics. The bust came from the PM's chief science adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman, who reported that there's never been a documented case of someone getting sick from third-hand exposure to meth.


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Race appointees ammo for Winston

The Taranaki Iwi Claims Settlement Bill, that legislates for six race-based appointees on the Taranaki Regional Council, provided new ammunition for New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters this week.


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Govt to blame for Maori reoffending?

The government is to blame for the high numbers of Maori in jail, according to a Treaty of Waitangi claim filed by retired probation officer Tom Hemopo. An urgent Waitangi Tribunal hearing was held in Wellington through the last week of July, to investigate Hemopo's claim.


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Tribalising local government

A 7-2 vote this week by the Masterton District Council to appoint representatives from two Wairarapa iwi to have voting rights on its standing committees is the latest step in a long march towards tribalising local government in New Zealand.


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Tribal rebellions day indoctrination not wanted

The government is considering setting aside a special holiday every year to indoctrinate us about "land wars” grievances. If you don't speak out it will probably be set up.


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Tribes plan for $1b plus water ownership

A $1-billion “capacity building” fund plus tribal ownership of freshwater, of all Crown owned river and lake beds, and the water column, are among proposals the Freshwater Iwi Leaders Group is taking around the country for tribal ratification.


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The case against HB amalgamation

Readers in Hawke’s Bay will soon vote on a proposed five-council amalgamation while readers elsewhere would know of similar proposals for the Wellington region and Northland. This is the case against the Hawke’s Bay proposal that will be voted on from August 24.