It's time for the Islamic Republic to go.

God Defend New Zealand? Or get a proper foreign policy? (N.A.S.A.) The brazen assault by the Donald Trump administration on the international legal framework that happened when U.S. forces attacked Venezuela was an assault on all that we stand for in the international community. And with it, the remaining shreds of credibility that the United States has as a friend of New Zealand.

The Earth is being treated like rubbish (S. Murdoch, 08/12/24) As the world grapples with the fact that the United States just punched international law in the head with its kidnapping of Nicolas Maduro, I am contemplating what the year 2026 will bring for a world looking dicier by the month. I cannot imagine a man probably more universally despised now, than Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Are stormy skies a metaphor for New Zealand in election year? (R. Glennie) 2026 begins overcast, with black clouds of various kinds hanging around New Zealand. I do not just mean the thunderstorms that have been striking various parts of the country over the last week, or the deluges that have come from them. The economy is not looking flash. Crime remains stubbornly visible to a lot of people, despite National making a promise to get tough on youth crime.

It is that time of year again when the political pundits roll out their nominees for best and worst political performances of 2025. Former Three News reporter, and now TV1 Breakfast co-host (in the new year) Tova O'Brien has just commissioned her take on New Zealand politics for the year. The L.O.M. (Loudmouth Obnoxious Minister) Award goes to Shane Jones, though it could be claimed by several Ministers across the Government.

Last week was Scrutiny Week. It is a week where bosses of various public service agencies go to Parliament and explain what they are doing in their agencies and why the Government should support them. Meet Greg Fleming, National Party, Member for Maungakiekie and supporter of Te Mangai Paho (T.M.P.), the agency responsible for enabling Maori broadcasting. He was at Parliament when the bosses of T.M.P.

New Zealand Parliament and the Beehive (R. Glennie) Sir Geoffrey Palmer, a former Prime Minister, Minister of the Crown, and constitutional expert, has expressed his significant concern about how the excessive use of Parliamentary urgency in New Zealand is undermining our democracy. It comes as we approach the end of a year in which its usage has reached an all time high.

When National Party leader Robert Muldoon was elected Prime Minister in 1975, he made a decision (not Think Big - more on that another time) that should bother every economist in New Zealand to this day. He abolished the compulsory contributory New Zealand Superannuation scheme. 50 years later, the decision to abolish that scheme is now thought to have cost New Zealand $625 billion in lost contributions.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (David Unwin). A truly astonishing thing to have happen occurred earlier this week, when Prime Minister Christopher Luxon went on Newstalk Z.B. Whilst talking to host, Mike Hosking, an avowed National supporter, he made two incredible claims: That he is a better Prime Minister than he was at the start of the year That the 2026 General Election, for which a date has not been set - and most likely will not be before next year…

Meet Qiulae Wong, the new Leader of The Opportunity Party. There are a number of things to like about T.O.P., who, despite the small scale resources at hand, have a surprisingly well oiled public relations machine. It is noted by the effective graphics employed on their website, the social media accounts appearance and that they have managed to attract a diverse array of people across ethnic and age groups, employment backgrounds and walks of life.

One of the biggest weaknesses in New Zealand politics is an understanding of how our local government works. One of the many reasons for this, might be the number of layers of local governance and the fact that in some areas these have been amalgamated to form - for lack of a better word - super council. But with National announcing the…

A lawyer named Tania Waikato has compiled a list of schools that have said that they will honour their Treaty of Waitangi obligations, despite National Party M.P. and Minister of Education, Erica Stanford removing them. Anti-Maori lobby group Hobsons Pledge called it a victory when Ms Stanford announced that the legal obligations that tie schools to the Treaty would be renounced.

Serco could not be trusted with N.Z. prisons, so why our health? (Credit: A.I). Serco. Have you as a reader, ever heard anything good about this British multi-national which provides government services on a contract basis in numerous countries around the world. Remember Mt Eden Prison fight club? It was a fight club organized by the Killer Beez Gang at Mount Eden Prison, for a period of time in the mid 2010's including when British multi-national company Serco was responsible for operating the prison on the Crowns behalf.

New Zealand Parliament and Beehive (R. Glennie) A few days ago I heard that support for Labour had risen to 38%, whilst needing Te Pati Maori to help them into the Beehive. This continues the slow but general upwards creep of the centre-left in New Zealand, as voters struggle with living costs, a failing economy, a huge number of loved ones and friends moving overseas and an assault on our environmental reputation.

Last week, former Police Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming pleaded guilty to three charges of possessing child pornography and bestiality material. The guilty pleas which have rocked the Police and drawn angry condemnation from Parliament, have since been followed by a damning 135 page report into Police handling of Mr McSkimming's case. The (in)actions are damning. Senior Police officers stopped Ministers of the Crown seeing complaints from a woman who alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Mr Skimming.

The Yellow Legged Hornet has been found in Auckland (123rf). Meet the Yellow Legged Hornet (hereafter v. velutina). This most unwelcome insect has been discovered in Auckland. Nobody is quite sure how long it has been here, but the multiple reports of confirmed sightings suggest it is unfortunately somewhat established. For beekeepers, horticulture, viticulture and other industries, this is potentially the biggest threat to be positively identified in New Zealand since the varroa bee-mite incursion of the early 2000's.

Is a Members Bill in Parliament about to ban fireworks? (Source: AI) New Zealand First is moving to ban private use of fireworks. As a kid I, my mates, parents and relatives had great fun letting a few off at big family events - New Years, Guy Fawkes and the occasional birthday. Lighting sparklers to wave around and Catherine Wheels that spun crazily on the ground, as well as low level devices with names such as Vesuvius that you placed on the ground and a fountain of sparks would go up - it was all fun and games until we started to realise the socio-economic cost of it.

Then Prime Minister Helen Clark and United Leader Peter Dunne inspecting our constitutional elements (Ashley W. Smith, 2004, Turnbull Library) Former Minister, the late Jim Bolger believed that New Zealand should become a Republic. To that end he declined a Knighthood that would have given him the title Sir James Bolger. Former Prime Minister Helen Clark said that it is inevitable New Zealand will become a Republic, but she did not consider a N.Z.

Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. It is infiltrating our way of life, from writing exams to potentially taking over everyday chores and employment roles. Its bewildering speed of evolution has left politicians in its wake, and articles regularly appear pointing to one challenge or another beginning to evolve. In this article I explore what my five primary concerns with A.I.

The performance of Minister of Finance Nicola Willis is a talking point. (Credit: Reece Baker/RNZ) The disgruntlement is clear to hear. When editors like Luke Malpass and columnists Damien Grant are talking about a centre-right coalition being in trouble, it most probably is. When talk back radio hosts - Mike Hosking of all people - believe something is wrong with National and the Government it is leading, it is safe to say there is a problem.

On Thursday 23 October over 100,000 nurses, doctors, midwives and teachers are going to strike. Whilst not a general strike in the sense that workers across the employment spectrum go on strike, this is expected to be the biggest in New Zealand in decades. It is too small to be called a general strike. It is not to say New Zealand has not had a general strike before, but the protest action being planned for 23 October 2025 is significantly smaller than a strike in 1979 where in a country which then had barely 3 million people, 300,000 workers walked off the job for 24 hours.

Voting for the 2025 local Government elections closed at the weekend. (The Press) "If you don't bother voting, you can't have your grumbling rights for the next 3 years" It is Wednesday 15 October, and the dust is settling on the 2025 local government election outcome. In an election cycle that turned out the lowest voter numbers in over 30 years, a mixed bag of results have played out across the country - and look at why we just recorded the lowest turn as a percentage of the population in 36 years.