Tokenism
June 17, 2022
Former Conservation Minister Kiritapu Allan made what could be one of the most important and logical comments about the use of Te Reo Maori in official documents I have heard in a very long time.In the last few days before she stepped down from the role to taken her new posi...
Threats to Democracy
June 15, 2022
The strength and durability of democracy is totally reliant on the right of groups and individuals to hold a dissenting or minority opinion and the freedom to debate that opinion in public.While none of our rights or freedoms are absolute there should only be restrictions ag...
Freedom Campers not invited
November 29, 2023
The recent announcement from newly appointed Tourism Minister Stuart Nash that he will ban freedom camping in vehicles that are not self-contained has come like a bucket of cold reality to many in the tourism industry.The minister is the first in a long time to heed the many...
Churches and Charities
November 20, 2023
When is a church not a church and what does it matter to non-religious or non-Christian people?Most people, may not realise it but everyone who pay taxes or property rates is subsidising dozens of churches throughout the country which pay almost no taxes or local body rates ...
Racism and Equality
November 20, 2023
Some of the dust has settled, the election is over and we will have a new government soon. But how much will we remember of the many promises and warnings we heard during the campaign? Requests by some leaders for an end to what they call “race baiting” by candidate...
NZ general election 2020 results
October 17, 2023
“The tumult and shouting dies; The Captains and Kings depart: Still stands personal sacrifice, and humbled if uncontrite heart.” (with profound apologies to Rudyard Kipling for butchering his beautiful Recessional)The moving verse in the aftermath of war is also an apt d...
Maori Wards must be decided by ratepayers, not councils alone
October 17, 2023
While Hamilton City Council and the Taranaki Regional Council appear to be approaching the thorny issue of Maori Wards for local bodies from completely different positions, they are in fact both taking exactly the right course.The Taranaki Regional Council recently resolved ...
Water and local body woes
October 15, 2023
Projected large scale changes in the near future to the way potable water is supplied to homes throughout the country should not have come as a surprise to anyone.Last week the Waipa District Council announced the possibility of spending millions of dollars on water system u...
Last year was a pass. We have much to be proud of.
January 27, 2023
Looking back over the past 12 months there is much to be proud of and just a little to intensely dislike about us Kiwis. Reflection is something we like to do in the aftermath of Christmas indulgence which some of us resolve never to repeat but mostly fail. Considering what ...
The dangers of race-based co-governance
July 7, 2022
In his opinion piece on co-governance, published in the mainstream media on June 26, Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, suggests it is a way to “lift up Maori, empower Tangata Whenua at the decision-making table.”Significantly my local newspaper declined to publish t...
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