The national arts development agency granted Brown Town $35,000 through its Pacific Arts Fund in 2024, but the Christchurch based collective is now facing criticism for proposing a racially tiered ticket pricing system for an event. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

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Clown Town: Creative NZ in another race controversy over taxpayer-funding in the arts

Creative New Zealand, a government-funded agency, is under fire for funding an arts group accused of promoting racism.

Brown Town, a visual arts group, according to RNZ, aimed at addressing “long standing issues of racism,” promoted an upcoming event featuring racially tiered ticket pricing: $30 for non-Māori/Pasifika attendees, $20 for Māori and Pacific attendees, and $15 for early-bird buyers.

Creative New Zealand provided $35,000 to Brown Town through its Pacific Arts Fund in 2024.

16 January 2025

Are global carbon controls a Trojan horse for economic centralisation?

Writer Brandon Smith argues that globalist organisations like the World Economic Forum (WEF) are using carbon taxation and climate equity as tools to centralise power and wealth.

Smith asserts that carbon controls are not about sustainability but about restructuring the global economy to benefit those pushing the social justice agenda.

16 January 2025

Former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman under investigation again for shoplifting

Police are investigating a new shoplifting complaint against former Green MP Golriz Ghahraman, reportedly involving a late 2024 incident at Pak’nSave Royal Oak.

While no charges have been laid, Stuff reports that Ghahraman is the subject of the investigation.

16 January 2025

Economist says US policies mean an uncertain future for Kiwi mortgages

Kiwi borrowers hoping for cheaper mortgages in 2025 might face disappointment, according to economist Tony Alexander. The real wildcard lies in the United States.

Shifting US Federal Reserve policies, spurred by a strong jobs market and potentially unpredictable economic policies from the incoming president, could ripple through to New Zealand’s economy.

16 January 2025

Sinking lids and rising profits: New Zealand’s pokie machine dilemma

Despite stricter regulations and fewer pokie machines in New Zealand, these devices still generate over $1 billion annually.

Councils like Porirua have implemented “sinking lid” policies, which are meant to reduce machine numbers over time. Yet, critics say the profits and the social costs remain high.

16 January 2025

Pro-Palestinian group opposes countering foreign interference bill

The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA), supporting Palestinian self-determination, has submitted its opposition to the proposed Crimes (Countering Foreign Interference) Amendment Bill.

PSNA argues that the legislation is unnecessary and could undermine free speech and democratic activism in New Zealand.

16 January 2025

The wildfire narrative and the politics of climate change

Framing the climate crisis narrative as a pretext for expanding state power, author and former US Congressman David Stockman dismisses the link between the Los Angeles wildfires and Anthropogenic Global Warming (AGW).

He contends that forest mismanagement, such as the reduction of controlled burns, has allowed flammable materials to accumulate, turning California into a “tinderbox.”