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Opinion: Bryce McKenzie. Bryce Mckenzie, co-founder of Groundswell NZ explains clearly what is happening in Gore and why it is relevant to all of New Zealand.We’re writing to update you on the proposed Gore District Plan, how it will affect all of New Zealand, and our latest step to take our campaign for property rights to the courts.This isn’t just about Gore, but the ever-expanding ways interest groups use planning legislation to wedge themselves between landowners and the legitimate uses of their land. It’s Gore today, but it could be any council tomorrow.And, before anyone gets carried away, this isn’t…

OPINION: Teasi Cannon “You are a personal and professional offense to me!” The words pierced my heart and echoed in my mind for weeks. My pastor — the man whose ministry had shaped my life for more than 23 years — believed I’d somehow damaged his reputation, and he was furious. Despite our best efforts to bring clarity and biblical resolve, a few months later, my husband and I were left with no choice but to leave the church we’d built, loved, and faithfully served. We were broken and utterly confused — and because of a toxic leadership structure with…

OPINION: Karl du Fresne “I’m not going to play that game,” Christopher Luxon said – rather lamely – when Tova O’Brien asked him how many Maori National MPs were in his cabinet. “It’s not a game,” countered O’Brien, doubtless trying hard to conceal her glee at having so easily caught the prime minister out. Oh, but it is a game. The game is called scalp-hunting and it’s commonly practised by journalists and broadcasters who mistakenly think their role is to make politicians squirm. The funny thing is, no one can recall the game being played when Jacinda Ardern was PM.…

OPINION: Andrew CopsonChief executive, Humanists UK The retraction of the Bible Society’s report on Gen Z church attendance (YouGov withdraws survey said to show rising church attendance in England and Wales, 26 March) is a welcome moment of clarity, but the “fraudulent” data identified by YouGov only tells half the story. The report’s central premise, that young people are flocking back to the pews, was always an outlier when measured against the gold-standard British Social Attitudes (BSA) survey. Our new analysis of the BSA data shows that six in 10 people aged 16 to 34 identify with no religion. Furthermore, this…

OPINION: Mark Creech, After watching an episode of “House of David,” (Amazon Prime) I found myself drawn back into one of the most familiar and yet most profound scenes in all of Scripture. It was the moment David faced Goliath. On that battlefield, Goliath was more than just a giant – he was defiance personified. Day after day, he hurled insults not merely at Israel, but at Israel’s God. His size, his armor, his voice, his sheer presence all declared the same message: Your God cannot save you. For a time, it seemed as though that message was winning. The armies…

By Greg Laurie The death of the Ayatollah has sent shockwaves through the Middle East. Many Iranians are rejoicing around the world, hoping this marks the end of decades of oppression. This regime has backed terror groups—like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis—and persecuted its own people—including Christians. Yet despite intense opposition, Christianity has grown dramatically in Iran through house churches and underground believers. Persecution often fuels spiritual awakening. Remember, modern-day Iran is ancient Persia—the land of Esther, Daniel, and King Cyrus, whom God called His “anointed” in Isaiah 45. God has worked in that nation before. Iran is not simply…

Opinion: Kelly Williams As we enter the Easter season and look to Holy Week, we want to center our attention on the significance of Christ’s work of redemption for all of humanity. The Apostle Paul did the same thing for the church at Corinth in the first century. He reminded them of these three words, “Jesus became sin.” These three words changed the course of history and not only history but eternity for all who believe in Jesus Christ’s sacrificial work on the cross. Two thousand years ago, the Apostle Paul said this to the Corinthian church about Jesus: “For…

by Annie Mcbrydie I am writing as an ordinary New Zealander who, like many others, is feeling the growing pressure of rising fuel costs. After reviewing the recently announced fuel relief package, I feel compelled to speak up. While the intention to support struggling families is acknowledged, the reality is that the current approach leaves a significant portion of the population without meaningful assistance. By targeting support primarily through existing schemes such as Working for Families, only a relatively small percentage of households will see direct relief. Meanwhile, the majority of working New Zealanders are left to absorb the full…

OPINION: Caitlin Brown. I have a proposal: what if we collectively stopped going to work, refused to pay taxes, and boycotted every institution that doesn’t serve the people? It would be a massive wake-up call for a government that acts like a parasite on society. Unless we take a stand together, nothing will change. Of course, there will always be those who side with the establishment over their own neighbors, so we may never have everyone. But if enough of us fight for our freedom and mental well-being, we can achieve this. Why are so many people afraid or embarrassed…

OPINION: Billy Brown After 15 years building infrastructure across the South Pacific and Australia, I came home to New Zealand a couple of years ago and saw a fundamental shift in our culture. We’ve moved away from meritocracy, productivity, and operational excellence. Instead, too many of our state-owned enterprises have drifted into DEI, wokeism, and left-leaning ideology. It’s simple: if you’re publicly owned, your fundamental job is to deliver operational excellence. That means meritocracy. That means productivity. That means returning a healthy dividend back to the government and ultimately to the New Zealand taxpayer. Just like Air New Zealand, TVNZ…

Opinion: Aaron Spencer. New Zealanders, in general, have had very little interest in the apparently baffling complexities of geopolitics, economics, and the way history doesn’t repeat…but does often rhyme. Our main preoccupations have been work, rugby, BBQ’s, holidays, and the inter-personal relationships and dramas of family and friends. And if the Jones’ are climbing the property ladder, buying a boat, and upgrading the car “that’s good enough for us as well”. Herd behaviour around what we should aspire to has well and truly been the order of the day and, in case there was any doubt, there was always an…