Category: Guest Posts
New Zealand cannot afford to keep paying money funding iwi, at either local or government level. It is money people cannot afford, produces nothing, and would be better spent on roads and infrastructure. And in spite of spending more and more money on iwi, the statistics for maori are not improving. Ergo, the stats might improve if the gravy train is cut off and people take responsibility for themselves instead of sticking their hand out.
When Governor Hobson on the 6th of February 1840 at the signing of the document between the Crown and some Maori Chiefs uttered the words “now we are one” he was embarking New Zealand on a journey which was without precedent in the history of colonialism.
It is so disappointing that National-led governments have failed to deliver legislation that adequately protects democratic accountability. We can expect unelected individuals or groups to continue to ‘sit at the table’ to vote, influence or intimidate elected councillors, and win all sorts of race-based entitlements, including outright control.
The Government’s latest Budget continues the pattern of short-term political management rather than the deep structural change New Zealand now desperately needs. While some restraint is being shown in public service numbers, the hard decisions on superannuation, welfare dependency, and genuine incentives for self-reliance are once again being avoided.
The international committee responsible for the official scenarios that feed into climate modeling has just published the next generation of climate scenarios. Big news: The new framework has eliminated the most extreme scenarios that have dominated climate research over much of the past several decades — specifically RCP8.5. This is an absolutely huge development which will have lasting impacts across research and policy.
FNDC is subverting the fundamental tenets of local government. It is deliberate defiance of legislative requirements sacrificing democracy and the rule of law in the advancement of an ideological cause. The Minister should demonstrate his commitment to democracy and the rule of law by taking action without further hesitation.
Those in charge of the neotribal corporations have grandiose ambitions. Not content with righting historical wrongs, their ambitions extend to acquiring both vast amounts of capital and the political power.
“Let’s give power back to the people” was Winston's new populist slogan as he sets his sights on voters who feel alienated from Labour and alarmed by Labour's potential coalition partners. Winston Peters’ recent set-piece speech made a pitch to blue-collar workers who feel abandoned by Labour.
The focus of climate and disaster policy should shift from futile attempts to control natural variability to adaptive strategies that enhance resilience. Recognising the limitations of human influence over climate, resources should be directed toward strengthening infrastructure and community preparedness. It’s time to lift the burden from the minds of New Zealanders: there is no Climate Emergency and - along with Net Zero - it can be put to bed with Rip Van Winkle.
Over last 30 or 40 years judges across the common law anglosphere world have become ever more willing to overrule the democratically elected branches of government. Call this a raw usurpation of power. Or call it judicial activism on steroids. It’s bad in Australia, but worse in New Zealand.
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