Councillor Maurice Williamson argued that the Treaty is an agreement between the Crown and Māori, not local councils, questioning why the council is involving itself in such debates. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Economy

Health

Society

Featured:

‘We’re not the Crown’: Auckland Councillor criticises Council involvement in Treaty Principles Bill debate

Auckland Council’s vote to oppose the Treaty Principles Bill has opponents questioning why a local body is involved in a national issue.

On The Platform with Sean Plunket, Councillor

Maurice Williamson expressed frustration, saying, “The treaty is an agreement between the Crown and Māori… we’re not the Crown. Why are we getting involved in something that has nothing to do with us?”

12 December 2024

Health Minister questions woke competency standards for nurses

New Zealand’s Health Minister Dr Shayne Reti has reservations about the Nursing Council’s updated competency standards, set to take effect in January 2025.

These standards place Māori culture and partisan views of the Treaty of Waitangi over all others. They require nurses, for instance, to address the “impact of colonisation” on health and advocate for perspectives, but critics argue that these changes prioritise ideology over practical skills.

12 December 2024

Sins of the father: Family Court grants adoption to man despite illegal surrogacy in Thailand

A single, gay New Zealand man, whose name is suppressed, paid a significant sum to a Thai fertility clinic worker to secure an illegal surrogacy arrangement.

Despite his actions being illegal in Thailand, the man has been granted an adoption order by the Family Court over objections from Oranga Tamariki.

12 December 2024

Tauranga Council gets flak for decision on unelected iwi reps

Tauranga-based ACT MP Cameron Luxton has strongly criticised the Tauranga City Council’s decision to appoint unelected iwi representatives to three key committees, granting them full voting rights and salaries funded by ratepayers.

Luxton described the move as “unelected representation is oxymoronic,” adding, “These appointees will develop plans and award contracts that ratepayers will pay for… but they will not be accountable to the people.”

12 December 2024

Speaker Gerry Brownlee defends Fast-track Approvals Bill decision

Speaker Gerry Brownlee has overruled the Clerk and Assistant Speaker to allow the Government’s Fast-track Approvals Bill to proceed despite allegations that it grants private benefits.

The bill, which aims to expedite projects through a streamlined process, faces criticism for potentially granting private benefits to specific projects, undermining transparency, fairness, and democratic processes.

12 December 2024

Gene Technology Bill raises concerns over independence and oversight

The newly introduced Gene Technology Bill, designed to reform outdated genetic modification laws, promises to streamline regulations and enable advancements in fields such as medicine, agriculture, and climate change.

But experts have pointed to its lack of robust oversight and independence.

12 December 2024

Government refreshes Relationships and Sexuality Education as critics call for scientific accuracy

Education Minister Erica Stanford has announced an overhaul of the Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE) curriculum, citing an Education Review Office (ERO) report that found the current framework inconsistent and unfit for purpose.

Advocacy group Resist Gender Education (RGE) welcomed the review but criticised the ERO report itself for perpetuating confusion around “gender identity” and its conflation with sexual orientation.