The ‘tough love’ announcement from the government overturns the Ardern era policy, inspired by a rhetoric of ‘kindness’. This endless oscillation must stop This week’s announcement by New Zealand’s new conservative government of a “tough love” welfare policy is simply the latest instalment of 30 years of flip-flopping that have left the country with a fragmented, ineffective and less-than-fully-humane benefit system. Inspired by Jacinda Ardern’s rhetoric of “kindness”, the previous Labour-led government poured an extra $16.5bn into welfare, carefully delivered in instalments so as not to alarm ..read more

New Zealanders, including leaders from across the political spectrum, have expressed shock and devastation at the sudden death of Green MP Efeso Collins, who collapsed after a charity run in Auckland on Wednesday. Collins, who was of Samoan and Tokelauan descent, gave his maiden speech to parliament less than a week ago, where he spoke about being the youngest of six children born in South Auckland suburb Ōtara to parents who arrived from Samoa in the early 1960s. Shock in New Zealand as Green party MP Efeso Collins dies after charity run ..read more

Devastated colleagues and friends pay tribute to Collins as a ‘passionate advocate’ and a champion of fairness and equality New Zealanders, including leaders from across the political spectrum, have expressed shock and devastation at the sudden death of Green MP Efeso Collins, who collapsed after a charity run in Auckland on Wednesday. “It is with profound shock and sadness that we can confirm that Green Party MP Efeso Collins has died,” said a statement from the Green party ..read more

Record crowds gather for country’s national day as fears of a wind back of Māori rights lead to angry exchanges The Treaty of Waitangi explained in 30 seconds As the sun arced above the Waitangi grounds, boring down on the lush green peninsula where Māori and the British Crown forged a nation in 1840, New Zealand’s new government faced the heat – less from above and more from the blaze of alarm over its plans for Māori, which many fear could result in a rollback of rights. Political leaders gathered at the grounds this week to celebrate Waitangi Day, New Zealand’s national day, which marks t ..read more

Government to review principles of founding document, raising fears over rollback of Māori rights The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi – considered New Zealand’s founding document – was signed in 1840 by the British Crown and about 540 Māori chiefs to establish a nation state. While not a legal document, some treaty principles have been developed and included in legislation. The treaty covers issues including land and cultural rights and Māori relations with the Crown. Interpretation of the treaty is often contested and New Zealand’s coalition government plans to review the treaty’s p ..read more

Australia to send delegation to NZ ‘very shortly’ to brief on second pillar of Aukus alliance after ministers meet in Melbourne New Zealand has stepped up its interest in joining the non-nuclear pillar of Aukus, amid China’s growing presence in the Pacific and broader concerns over a “reshaped world”. New Zealand’s foreign minister Winston Peters – also the deputy prime minister – and defence minister, Judith Collins, travelled to Melbourne to meet with their Australian counterparts, Penny Wong and Richard Marles, for the inaugural ‘2+2’ Australia and New Zealand foreign and defence ministers ..read more

Government accused of using fear to roll back decades of progress for Māori and ‘reinforce colonial ideologies’ at huge indigenous meeting on Saturday It was a rare national meeting that was expected to attract 3,000 attenders. Instead, 10,000 were there, Māori leaders and their families pouring into Tūrangawaewae – the seat of the Māori King – in a mighty display of unity against New Zealand government policies that risk unwinding decades of progress for Māori rights and wellbeing ..read more

Māori leaders and others are expected to attend a rare national meeting due to concerns about the new government’s policies on indigenous rights An estimated 3,000 Māori leaders, tribal representatives and a number of politicians are expected to meet this week, after the Kiingitanga* – the Māori king movement – called for a rare national meeting amid simmering tensions over the new National-led government’s direction for Māori. Late last year, Kiingi Tuheitia Pootatau Te Wherowhero VII issued the extremely rare royal proclamation asking iwi (tribes) to meet to “unify the nation and ensure all ..read more

Justice minister rules out lowering voting age to 16 but agrees to referendum on lengthening New Zealand’s short three-year parliamentary terms New Zealand will not lower the voting age to 16 but will consider lengthening the notably short parliamentary term, the government has said, after a comprehensive review of the country’s electoral system that could lead to sweeping changes. The Independent Electoral Review, set up under Jacinda Ardern’s government, released its two-year investigation into the country’s mixed-member proportional (MMP) system on Tuesday ..read more

Ghahraman cites mental health concerns, and says she takes ‘full responsibility for my actions which I deeply regret’ Golriz Ghahraman, a New Zealand Green party MP and its justice spokesperson, has resigned with immediate effect, saying she takes “full responsibility” for her actions, following accusations of shoplifting from two high-end clothing stores. In her first public comments since the allegations surfaced, Ghahraman said: “It is clear to me that my mental health is being badly affected by the stresses relating to my work. This has led me to act in ways that are completely out of char ..read more