Author: Mike Bain/cvnznews.com

Editorial: Mike Bain/cvnznews.com The personal dispute between Labour leader Chris Hipkins and his former wife, Jade Paul, has exploded across social media with a speed and ferocity that has become all too familiar in modern New Zealand. What began as a series of allegations posted to a private Facebook page has now spiralled into a nationwide online storm, fuelled less by facts and more by speculation, emotion, and the internet’s appetite for drama. Mrs Paul has confirmed she stands by her claims. Hipkins has categorically rejected them. New Zealand’s mainstream media, to their credit, have reported the existence of the…

Finance Minister Nicola Willis says the Government is meeting daily as global tensions triggered by the Iran conflict begin to place pressure on New Zealand’s fuel supplies and wider supply chains. While ministers insist there is no need for panic, signs of strain are emerging at the pump, with unleaded 91 reaching $3.15 at some stations and isolated reports of service stations temporarily running out of fuel as some motorists begin hoarding. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Willis outlined the Government’s three‑pillar response: supply chains, freight disruptions, and economic support. Willis said officials are working closely with fuel…

OPINION by Omar Suleiman In a small town in southern Iran on the first day of the U.S.-Israeli attacks (Feb. 28), more children were killed in a single strike on a girls school than all the American kids who died in the past two years in school shootings.  If we cannot feel the death of an Iranian child with the same moral clarity as the death of a child in the United States, then something in us has been deformed. In the United States, we don’t just remember school shootings, we ritualize them. We remember the ages, the classrooms, the faces, names. We build…

War in the Middle East has always stirred more than geopolitical analysis. It awakens prophetic expectations and hope. As the conflict between Iran and the United States alongside Israel intensifies, something striking is happening across the world’s major faith communities. Islamic clerics are invoking the return of the Mahdi. Jewish rabbis are speaking openly about redemption and the coming of the Messiah. Some Christians are declaring that America or Donald Trump must play a specific role in the end times. Prophetic expectation is rising everywhere — but so is confusion. For Christians who take the Bible seriously, moments like this…

Author Unknown, Supplied by Laurie Bull/TaumarunuiAn atheist was walking through the woods. ‘What majestic trees!’ ‘What powerful rivers!’ ‘What beautiful animals!’ He said to himself. As he was walking alongside the river, he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him. He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground. He rolled…

War has many fronts—land, air, sea, and cyberspace. But in the past 72 hours, the conflict between the United States and Iran appears to have opened a new and potentially more dangerous front: oil itself. What began primarily as strikes on military bases, missile facilities, and command centers has shifted dramatically toward energy infrastructure. Oil depots, refineries, tanker routes, and export hubs are now being targeted across the Middle East. The message from both sides is clear: if you cannot defeat your enemy quickly on the battlefield, you can still damage them—and the world—through the price of energy. The result…

Story by Katy Watson /Simon Atkinson /Ben Hatton BBCNews. Australia says one of the two members of the Iranian football group who had earlier accepted an offer to stay in the country has changed her mind. “One of the two who had made the decision to stay last night, had spoken to some of the teammates who had left and had changed her mind,” Immigration Minister Tony Burke told parliament on Wednesday. The two – one player and one member of support staff – had previously been reunited with another five players who were granted visas to stay over concerns about their…

There is “no indication” that Iranian nuclear sites have been damaged in the current U.S.-Israeli war against the Islamic regime, International Atomic Energy Agency head Rafael Grossi said on Monday. Grossi told the body’s Board of Governors during an emergency meeting in Vienna that while efforts to contact Iranian nuclear authorities continue, his organization has received “no response so far.” He went on to say that “so far, no elevation of radiation levels above the usual background levels has been detected in countries bordering Iran.” Iran’s envoy to the IAEA, Reza Najafi, told reporters on the sidelines of the meeting…

Story by Ani O’Brien/Mike Bain cvnznews.com. It is easy, in hindsight, to forget the atmosphere of early 2020. COVID‑19 seemed to come out of nowhere, China was not transparent, and no one knew whether the world was under‑ or overreacting. As your document puts it, “experts were issuing advice based on incomplete data and information which politicians were then making decisions with.” In that context, New Zealand’s early response was broadly reasonable. The Royal Commission’s Phase Two report reflects this, acknowledging that leaders acted cautiously while trying to buy time against an unknown threat. But the report’s even‑handedness makes its…

By Mike Bain— cvnznews.com cvnznews.com note: This story synthesises the royal commission’s Phase Two findings and expert commentary to provide a balanced account. Readers are encouraged to consult the full commission report and expert submissions for detailed evidence and context. A royal commission report released on Tuesday finds New Zealand’s Covid-19 response between February 2021 and October 2022 was broadly effective in saving lives, but left lasting social and economic wounds that policymakers must address before the next pandemic. The commission praised early border controls, lockdowns and the vaccine rollout while identifying shortcomings in adaptability, transparency and the handling of…

At Monday’s post‑Cabinet press conference, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Finance Minister Nicola Willis sought to steady nerves after a difficult week for the Government, addressing questions about leadership, poor polling and the rising cost of petrol amid conflict in the Middle East. Luxon insisted clear communication is “absolutely” important for a prime minister, but pushed back against what he described as an overemphasis on polls. “New Zealanders out there are not talking about polls. They want to know about the economy and what we’re doing to fix it,” he said, framing his focus on delivery rather than polish. The…

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has moved to steady his leadership after a bruising week, insisting he remains the right person to lead National into the November election despite a sharp drop in polling and renewed scrutiny of his communication style. Speaking at Parliament today, Luxon said the ability to communicate clearly is “absolutely” important for any Prime Minister, but argued New Zealanders care far more about economic outcomes than political commentary. “Absolutely. And that’s why I’ve got so many media engagements in any given week,” he said. “New Zealanders out there are not talking about polls. They want to know…

Analysis from The Wise Response Society One week after US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the Wise Response Society warns that the situation has deteriorated significantly since its initial alert on 3rd March – and that the New Zealand government’s silence on contingency planning is becoming increasingly dangerous. If the New Zealand government has a plan for rationing fuel, it has not discussed it with the public. It is the position of the Wise Response Society that it must do so immediately. In the nine days since US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the…

Wars are often framed as contests of courage, strategy, and political will. But beneath the speeches and battlefield maneuvers lies a far more fundamental force: supply and demand. If this conflict has revealed anything in its first three days, it is that modern war is not just about who fires first — it is about who has enough inventory to finish quickly. The United States openly acknowledged that it accelerated its timeline because of a narrow strategic window. That window was not merely political. It was logistical. For months, assets were quietly moved into position — carrier strike groups, missile…

For decades, Bible prophecy teachers have pointed to one of the most dramatic passages in Scripture–Book of Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39–as a roadmap for a future war that would shake the Middle East and the world. The prophecy describes a coalition of nations rising up against Israel in the last days. Among the nations listed is Persia–widely understood to be modern-day Iran–alongside powers commonly associated with Russia and Turkey. For years, the alignment seemed obvious. Iran’s revolutionary regime openly called for the destruction of Israel. Russia strengthened ties with Tehran and armed its proxies. Turkey drifted further from the…

Story by Mike Bain/cvnznews.com Christopher Luxon is confronting the most perilous moment of his leadership after the latest Taxpayers’ Union–Curia poll plunged National to 28.4%, its worst showing since the final days of the Judith Collins era. Senior National figures insist there is no active move against the Prime Minister — but privately, many now concede the question can no longer be avoided: is Luxon’s leadership sustainable, and if not, who replaces him? The poll, revealed by the Herald, shows National down nearly three points from February, a result that would slash the party to 36 seats, twelve fewer than…

New Zealand faces possible petrol price rises after renewed conflict in the Middle East pushed Brent crude above US$80 a barrel. Economists warn retail prices could climb 20–30 cents per litre in coming weeks; at US$100 a barrel, forecasts suggest petrol might exceed $3 per litre. Supply risks include damage to Gulf production facilities and disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz, while futures markets reflect next month’s oil rather than immediate domestic supply. Industry voices stress retailers are largely price-takers in a global market and that current stocks and regulatory reserve requirements reduce the risk of short-term shortages. Government officials…

A surge in lower‑emission vehicles has pushed New Zealand past a symbolic threshold: more than 100,000 NZ‑new battery electric and plug‑in hybrid vehicles are now registered across light vehicles, motorcycles and heavy vehicles, the Motor Industry Association says. The milestone — 100,323 NZ‑new BEV and PHEV registrations — marks a clear shift: electrified models are moving from niche experiment to an established part of the new‑vehicle market. MIA data shows NZ‑new BEV and PHEV entries account for 69.6 percent of all electrified registrations recorded in New Zealand, highlighting the NZ‑new channel’s outsized role in fleet renewal. That means the majority…

The final report of Parliament’s inquiry into the harm young New Zealanders face online paints a stark picture of a digital world moving faster than families, schools, or governments can keep up. National MP Carl Bates, who led the inquiry, says the evidence is unequivocal: “The harm young New Zealanders are facing from online platforms is significant. It is fast‑moving and occurring on a global scale.” The report recommends stronger regulation, an independent online‑safety regulator, and the banning of apps that create or distribute non‑consensual deepfake imagery—technology increasingly used to target children, especially girls. It also urges New Zealand to…

Editorial: cvnznews.com It has finally happened: a combined U.S. and Israeli strike on Iran. I sat in my office on Friday, fingers hovering over the keyboard, wondering which outrage the hand‑wringers would pick this time. By Monday morning the headlines confirmed what many had feared—another flashpoint, another season of global unease. The signs were not invisible. Naval forces were positioned; leaders were publicly tense; rhetoric hardened. When history tightens its grip, the improbable can become inevitable. Jesus warned his followers to read the signs and to be alert. He told them to “watch out that no one deceives you,” and…

Breaking News: Iran’s new Supreme Leader has been named as Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to Iranian Opposition outlet Iran International. Iran, proxies seen plotting attacks on US after Khamenei killing The Iranian regime and its terrorist proxies are likely to launch targeted attacks, including cyber operations, against the United States following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, according to a U.S. Department of Homeland Security assessment. The Feb. 28 DHS intelligence assessment, reviewed by Reuters, says Iran-aligned “hacktivists” are expected to step up low-level operations such as website defacements and denial-of-service attacks. “Although a large-scale physical attack…

New Zealand’s tourism sector is continuing its remarkable post‑pandemic resurgence, with new data showing the industry pumping billions more into the economy and supporting thousands of additional jobs nationwide. The latest Tourism Satellite Account from Stats NZ reports total tourism expenditure of $46.6 billion for the year ending March 2025 — up $1.5 billion (3.3%) on the previous year. International visitors were a major driver, lifting their spending by $1.2 billion (7%) to $18.1 billion, in line with a 4.3% rise in overseas arrivals to 3,320,687 people. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston says the figures confirm the sector’s growing…

Original story by Erik Tryggestad Fear mixed with hope — that’s how many Iranian Christians are describing their emotions after the weekend’s devastating strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel. For thousands of believers scattered across Europe, the attacks hit close to home. Many remain in constant contact with family members still living under the Iranian regime. “It’s very mixed feelings right now… all their loved ones are involved.” — Reggy Hiller In recent weeks, Iranians have staged massive anti‑government protests, only to face violent retaliation. Some Christians say the strikes felt like an unexpected answer to desperate…

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned Israel’s attacks on Lebanon, stating that the country would not allow itself to be turned back into a “platform for support wars that have nothing to do with it.” According to the official news agency NNA, Aoun stated that the firing of rockets from Lebanese territory risks drawing the country into dangerous military conflicts in the region, and that this targets the state’s efforts to keep Lebanon out of conflict. Aoun also condemned Israel’s attacks on Lebanese territory, warning that turning Lebanon back into a “platform for support wars that have nothing to do with…

Across New Zealand, a growing number of Police officers are lacing up their shoes, heading to their local green spaces, and discovering that staying fit for duty can also be social, energising and downright fun. The catalyst is simple: parkrun — the free, weekly, 5km community event that’s quickly becoming a favourite tool for building baseline fitness across the force. Police leadership has been encouraging staff to rethink how they approach wellbeing, and parkrun has emerged as a natural fit. It’s accessible, inclusive, and designed for every level of fitness. Whether someone is chasing a personal best or simply walking…

A practical win for rural communities is on the way as the Government fast‑tracks KiwiSaver changes designed to help farmers, farm workers and defence personnel finally get a foothold on the property ladder. The reforms, driven by a Member’s Bill from Rangitīkei MP Suze Redmayne and now taken up by the Government, aim to remove technical barriers that have long disadvantaged people who live in employer‑provided housing or buy farms through commercial entities. Redmayne says the change answers a clear injustice. She recalls Tirrell, a stock manager at Tunnel Hill, who had saved a substantial deposit in KiwiSaver but was…

Europeans don’t want the Antichrist — at least, not by name. But a recent poll conducted by AboutPeople reveals a disturbing willingness among citizens to embrace strong, decisive leadership that could bypass democratic processes if it promises stability and results. One in five Europeans say they would prefer a dictatorship in certain circumstances, and a quarter admit they would not mind if a capable leader limited democratic rights and acted without accountability — provided he was effective. This is the paradox behind the title: Europe may not be consciously seeking the Antichrist, yet what millions of Europeans desire — a…

Wellington’s south coast has once again been slapped with “unsafe for swimming” warnings — a mere two days after Mayor Andrew Little waded into Lyall Bay to prove, with great confidence, that everything was fine. On Wednesday, officials announced the beaches could reopen. But by Friday afternoon, the Land Air Water Aotearoa (LAWA) website had updated much of the south coast — along with most of the inner harbour, including Oriental Bay — to “unsuitable for swimming”. Large parts of the Miramar Peninsula were downgraded to “caution advised”. Overnight rain appears to have tipped the balance. LAWA routinely warns against…

The latest child poverty figures show a worrying stability rather than improvement: about one in seven children are living in material hardship. Political parties have responded sharply, but the tone of the debate is increasingly focused on practical steps to reduce hardship and support whānau. Labour’s statement highlights the human cost behind the numbers. Labour’s child poverty spokesperson Jan Tinetti said the rise in hardship reflects families forced into painful trade-offs — delaying medical care, going cold, or cutting back on basics. Labour points to rising food prices, job losses and homelessness as drivers, and reiterates its policy priorities: free…

The Government has confirmed it has received the final report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into COVID‑19 Lessons, marking a significant milestone in New Zealand’s review of its pandemic response. The report was formally delivered to the Governor‑General this morning, with its public release scheduled for 10 March 2026 when it is presented to Parliament. Internal Affairs Minister Brooke van Velden acknowledged the scale of public engagement that helped shape the inquiry’s expanded scope. “Thousands of Kiwis made their voices heard through submissions,” she said, noting that many New Zealanders were dissatisfied with the narrow terms of reference set…

A legal ruling in Canada is reverberating far beyond one man’s life–and Christians who understand the times should recognize it for what it is: not merely a judgment, but a signal flare. Former school trustee Barry Neufeld has been ordered by the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal to pay an astonishing $750,000 over public statements he made criticizing gender ideology and school curriculum policy while serving in the Chilliwack School District. The tribunal ruled that his comments constituted discriminatory publications under provincial law. The official justification for the massive financial penalty is as striking as the amount itself. According to…

Opinion: Joey Sacharow “Australia has a choice to make. Its character — for generations to come — will be defined by its response to the Bondi Beach shooting. And I’m not talking about just Australia’s government. It’s in the hands of every Australian, not just politicians, to decide the country’s direction. Australia’s deadliest terrorist attack wasn’t random. It was an intentional massacre of Jews during a holiday celebration. That must be stated clearly. Because no society is judged by how it treats its majority — but by how safe its minorities feel. Right now, Australian Jews don’t feel safe. There…

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has used his State of the Nation speech to argue New Zealand is losing ground on living costs, productivity, and climate resilience, warning that “people are working harder than ever and falling further behind.” Speaking to the Auckland Business Chamber, he said nearly 240,000 New Zealanders have left the country in two years, calling it “talent we can’t afford to lose.” Hipkins outlined Labour’s election-year focus on jobs, health, and homes, including three free GP visits annually, major investment in renewable energy, and a targeted capital gains tax on investment and commercial properties. He said too…

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has used his State of the Nation speech to argue New Zealand is at a crossroads, warning that rising living costs, stagnant productivity and accelerating climate impacts are eroding opportunity and driving thousands of New Zealanders overseas. Speaking to the Auckland Business Chamber, Hipkins said New Zealanders are “working harder than ever and falling further behind,” pointing to higher grocery, power and insurance costs. He criticised the Government for “tinkering around the edges” while 2,000 people leave the country each week, saying nearly 240,000 have departed in the past two years. Hipkins framed the election-year choice…

There are moments when numbers stop being statistics and start becoming warnings. The latest figures on oil accumulation by China may be one of those moments. On paper, Beijing’s massive crude stockpiling spree looks like smart economics — buying low while prices remain relatively soft. But in the language of geopolitics, stockpiles of fuel have always meant something more. They mean preparation. They mean insulation. And sometimes, they mean anticipation of conflict. Over the past two years, China has quietly added hundreds of millions of barrels of crude to its reserves, building inventories equivalent to roughly three months of imports.…

Every week it seems another pastor or prominent spiritual leader is splashed across headlines for sexual immorality, abuse, or moral hypocrisy. The pattern has become so tragically familiar that many believers no longer react with shock–but with a weary sigh. What was once unthinkable has become expected. And now the data confirms what the headlines have been whispering for years: public trust in clergy is collapsing. A new survey from Gallup reveals that only 27% of Americans rate clergy as “high” or “very high” in honesty and ethics–the lowest level recorded in the organization’s half-century of tracking public perception. As…

The world is once again holding its breath as the drums of war echo across the Middle East — and this time, the sound is unmistakably louder. What is unfolding is not routine posturing or diplomatic theater. It is the deliberate assembly of military force, political will, and strategic timing that historically precedes a major conflict. With Donald Trump signaling readiness to strike Iran and Israel bracing for retaliation, the region appears closer to a large-scale confrontation than at any point since the brief but volatile “12-day war” last year. Officials close to Benjamin Netanyahu say Israel’s defense establishment has…

Story by Robert Jones/Life Site News. French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly embraced Freemasonry’s worldview, declaring its anti-Christian vision of man to be foundational to the Republic—and praising it for its involvement in recent euthanasia legislation. “Freemasons are taking up this fundamental debate regarding the end of life,” Macron said during a May 5 visit to the Grande Loge de France. “Be proud of it.” Macron praised the Lodge’s framing of end of life issues not as “good on one side and evil on the other,” but as “simply a choice to be made in concrete situations.” The president went beyond policy,…

OPPO’s experience — a central Auckland customer‑service ad drawing roughly 2,500 applicants while the company employs about 27 people locally — is a vivid snapshot of a broader market dynamic: cvnznews.com editor Mike Bain looks at why many jobseekers are chasing fewer advertised roles in major centres, while regional employers like the Bay of Plenty report both vacancies and specific hiring challenges. The data and employer reports suggest the phenomenon is systemic rather than a one‑off. Auckland — When OPPO New Zealand managing director Morgan Halim posted a customer‑service vacancy for a central Auckland role, he expected a healthy response.…

OPINION: A.S. Ibrahim. In the vast expanse of the Arabian Peninsula, tiny Qatar—smaller than Connecticut—casts an outsized and dangerous shadow. Fueled by gas riches, it channels billions into Muslim and non-Muslim lands alike, including the heart of America, advancing an Islamist agenda that sows division and extremism under the guise of philanthropy. Most alarming is Qatar’s playbook: a calculated campaign of funding universities to shape Islamist-friendly education and financing radical mosques to propel political Islam. These are not benign investments. They amount to a stealth assault on Western values, empowering radicals while Qatar postures as a benevolent mediator. Make no…