Author: Mike Bain/cvnznews.com

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com ACT leader David Seymour is claiming credit for what he calls a “major step” toward clearer and more consistent Treaty law, after the Government confirmed it will amend or repeal Treaty‑principles clauses in 19 pieces of legislation. Seymour took to X with a rapid‑fire list of Acts where Treaty references will be removed entirely — including the Education and Training Act, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, the Smokefree Environments Act, and the Crown Pastoral Land Act. He also highlighted a second group of laws, such as the Resource Management Act and Conservation Act, where Treaty clauses…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com After a week of criticism that the Government is “not doing enough” on social support, homelessness, and public services, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka has announced a $1 million investment to upgrade tracks and campgrounds across the Tarawera and Ōkataina region. The funding will reopen the Eastern Ōkataina Walkway — closed since a 2021 rockfall — and support upgrades across more than 22 kilometres of tracks and three campgrounds. Potaka says the work will improve safety, resilience, and visitor experience in one of Rotorua’s most iconic outdoor destinations. “Tarawera and Ōkataina attract thousands of people every year and…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com The Government is pressing ahead with new police “move‑on” powers despite warnings from its own agencies that the policy will not reduce crime and risks criminalising homelessness — including children as young as 14. Both Labour and the Green Party say the legislation reflects a political desire for visible toughness rather than a genuine attempt to address the causes of homelessness. Their criticism lands in a week when officials from Justice, Police, Treasury and Housing all cautioned that the policy is unlikely to work and may increase harm. Labour’s housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says the Government has…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com Most Kiwis don’t spend much time thinking about the Korean Peninsula, but right now a group of New Zealand soldiers is over there doing something pretty remarkable — and it’s turning heads among our defence partners. A 33‑strong NZ Army platoon has just wrapped up a major training exercise with the Republic of Korea Marine Corps near Pohang, and for the first time ever, our soldiers were fully embedded inside a Korean landing battalion. In simple terms: Kiwi troops trained shoulder‑to‑shoulder with one of the toughest amphibious forces in the world. The exercise was massive — around…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com If you’ve been out and about lately, you’ve probably felt it — the cafés a bit busier, the queues at the airport a bit longer, and a few more accents floating around the streets. Turns out it’s not just your imagination. New Stats NZ numbers show international visitors are rolling back in, and it’s giving the whole country a decent lift. In March alone, 358,900 visitors touched down in Aotearoa — that’s 15% more than this time last year and edging closer to the pre‑COVID buzz of 2019. And honestly, you can feel the difference. More visitors…

by Mike Bain/cvnznews.com. The Marist Brothers in Aotearoa New Zealand have issued a formal and unreserved apology to survivors of abuse, acknowledging what they called a “profound shame” and a dark chapter in their history. The apology, delivered at a national gathering attended by survivors both in person and online, marks one of the most direct public acknowledgements yet from the Catholic order. Provincial of the Star of the Sea Province, Br Darren Burge fms, opened with a stark admission: “I apologise for these crimes and abuse… It is a source of profound shame that child abuse of any type…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com The sudden enthusiasm among some commentators for a Labour–National “Grand Coalition” is being sold as a pragmatic fix for political fragmentation. But beneath the rhetoric of stability lies a far more consequential question: what would such a coalition actually do to the parts of government where the two major parties quietly converge — Māori representation, co‑governance, and the public service? Read More: Who really wants a Grand Coalition between Labour and National? – cvnznews.com Will National rule out Labour? – cvnznews.com Ani O’Brien’s widely shared essay argues that a grand coalition would consolidate power among a narrow…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com A political idea once considered unthinkable — a Labour–National “Grand Coalition” — is suddenly being floated as if it were the natural next step for a mature democracy. Commentators call it “sensible”, “stable”, even “responsible”. But beneath the soothing language lies something far more revealing: a political class rattled by voters who are no longer behaving the way they’re supposed to. READ MORE: Who really wants a Grand Coalition between Labour and National? – cvnznews.com In a widely shared essay, commentator Ani O’Brien argues that the push for a grand coalition is not a sign of political…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com The Government has confirmed it will disestablish the Broadcasting Standards Authority, calling the 35‑year‑old regulator unfit for a digital media era. The move follows months of controversy involving online broadcaster The Platform and has been hailed as a political win by ACT — and a personal vindication by Sean Plunket. The Government has announced it will move to disestablish the Broadcasting Standards Authority, declaring the long‑standing regulator “no longer fit for purpose” in a media environment dominated by digital platforms, podcasts, livestreams and on‑demand content. Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said the BSA was built for…

by Mike Bain/cvnznews.com Another trusted figure in New Zealand’s clergy has been unmasked for historic sexual offending, reinforcing a painful pattern the Church can no longer ignore. Former Anglican priest Jonathan Kirkpatrick, once celebrated as a spiritual leader and community figure, has been sentenced to six years and nine months in prison for sexually violating an 18‑year‑old in the mid‑1990s. Kirkpatrick’s fall is not new. His name first hit headlines in 2011 when he was jailed for stealing more than $660,000 from Auckland University of Technology. That conviction should have been a flashing warning sign — a reminder that character…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Australia’s federal royal commission investigating the conditions that led to the Bondi Beach massacre on Dec. 14 began taking testimonies on Monday in Sydney, revealing the unhealed wounds of the local Jewish community to the nation. “Antisemitism was allowed to come into the open,” said Sheina Gutnick, (pictured) whose father, Reuven Morrison, was killed in the Bondi attack, according to AFP. Gutnick referred to the shift in the country following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel’s northwestern Negev. “Now Bondi holds a really, really heavy weight in our community’s heart,” AFP quoted her as telling the members of…

by Mike Bain/cvnznews.com The name of Jesus did ring through Auckland’s CBD on Saturday — not with the roar of a mass movement, but with the steady conviction of believers who showed up despite a short lead‑in, minimal advertising, and a country that feels spiritually cautious. Catalyst Movement had called Christians to gather at Te Komititanga Square for a simple purpose: walk together, lift the name of Jesus, and pray for the city. No hype machine. No political angle. No celebrity pastors. Just faith, unity, and expectation. Turnout was modest. No one counted numbers, and those present acknowledged the crowd…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com ACT’s six‑point immigration package would tighten deportation rules, add a $6‑a‑day surcharge on temporary work visas and impose a five‑year welfare stand‑down for new residents; supporters say it restores fairness, critics call it punitive and risky for vulnerable workers. ACT leader David Seymour unveiled a six‑point plan aimed at “making immigration work for New Zealand,” proposing deportation of resident visa holders convicted of serious offences regardless of how long they have lived here; annual expiry of some Accredited Employer Work Visa categories; a $6 per day infrastructure surcharge on temporary work visas; a five‑year welfare stand‑down for…

EDITORIAL: Mike Bain The story is simple and brutal. God declared Jericho’s plunder devoted to the Lord; it was not for private keeping, not for personal gain, not for hiding beneath a tent. Achan saw, coveted, took, and buried the evidence. His private theft became public catastrophe: Israel stumbled at Ai, the camp suffered, and the hidden sin had to be dragged into the light before the community could be restored. The ancient narrative is not merely about one man’s greed; it is a moral parable about stewardship, secrecy, and communal consequence. When what is set apart for God is…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com President Donald Trump urged other nations in mid‑March 2026 to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, prompting international caution and a sharp domestic response from the Green Party, which has called on Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to rule out New Zealand joining any US‑led military coalition. President Trump publicly called on countries that rely on oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz to “take care of that passage” in mid‑March, urging partners to contribute to reopening and securing the waterway after attacks and strikes disrupted shipping. Several international outlets reported the appeal between 14–16 March and noted that…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com A major new report has raised urgent questions about New Zealand’s standing in the Pacific, revealing that while Pasifika communities still overwhelmingly prefer Wellington as their primary partner, the region is no longer operating on automatic loyalty. The Asia New Zealand Foundation’s latest talanoa shows that 83 percent of Pasifika want New Zealand to play a bigger role in the Pacific, a figure that dwarfs support for Australia at 58 percent and confirms New Zealand’s long‑held position as the region’s traditional anchor. But beneath that headline number lies a shifting geopolitical landscape in which Pacific peoples are…

By Mike Bain, Colin Ambler/cvnznews.com. The United Arab Emirates has chosen to depart from OPEC and OPEC+ to prioritize its national interests. This strategic decision impacts the oil-exporting groups amidst the US-Israel conflict with Iran, which has generated a substantial energy shock and destabilized the global economy. Effective Friday, the move demonstrates the UAE’s strategic long-term economic vision and its evolving energy profile, according to a statement released by state media on Tuesday. “During our time in the organisation, we made significant contributions and even greater sacrifices for the benefit of all,” it added. “However, the time has come to focus…

by Mike Bain/Colin Ambler/cvnznews.com. The attempted attack outside the White House Correspondents’ Dinner should have forced a rare moment of moral clarity in American politics. Instead, within hours of Secret Service agents rushing to protect the President and evacuate guests from a scene of chaos outside one of Washington’s most secure political events, social media did what it now routinely does: it fractured the moment into ideological reaction, spectacle, and–most disturbingly–celebration and dismissal of political violence in some corners of the online left. This is not about one post or one personality because quite frankly there are too many to…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Zespri has launched a refreshed global brand platform, Grown for Good, reinforcing its commitment to natural nutrition and creating value across the kiwifruit industry – for consumers, customers, growers and its people. At a time when many people are overfed yet undernourished, Grown for Good sharpens Zespri’s focus on helping close everyday nutrition gaps with great-tasting, nutrient-dense kiwifruit, backed by science and delivered through strong partnerships from orchard to store. Building on the success of Zespri’s previous platform, Make Your Healthy Irresistible, Grown for Good reflects Zespri’s purpose in action – going beyond advertising to champion nutrition in-market, support customers and shoppers…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com President Donald Trump was rushed off stage by Secret Service agents after gunfire erupted at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, prompting a rapid evacuation of the president, Vice President JD Vance, and multiple Cabinet members. Officials later confirmed all senior leaders are safe. The incident unfolded at the Washington Hilton — the same venue where President Ronald Reagan was shot in 1981 — just moments after the dinner programme began. According to pool reporters, several Secret Service agents shouted “shots fired” as they moved to shield the president and first lady. Authorities say the…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com. The National Party has filed a formal complaint with TVNZ alleging inappropriate behaviour by its reporters following a week of intense political coverage. Senior minister Simeon Brown said on Facebook that TVNZ journalists pursued National Party whip Stuart Smith into a parliamentary corridor and repeatedly knocked on his door after he declined to comment further on a statement he made earlier in the week. Brown said the interaction lasted several minutes and that reporters pressed Smith about how he would be portrayed on TVNZ’s Breakfast programme if he did not speak to them. He described the conduct…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has departed for New Delhi to formally sign the New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement, a deal the Government says will unlock major export gains in one of the world’s fastest‑growing economies. The signing delegation includes MPs from across Parliament and more than 30 New Zealand business representatives. The agreement — long sought by successive governments — will eliminate or reduce tariffs on 95% of New Zealand’s exports, with 57% duty‑free from day one, rising to 82% once fully implemented. Key sectors including sheep meat, wool, forestry, coal, and most industrial products…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com New Zealanders receiving a benefit are being urged to think carefully before tapping their KiwiSaver for financial hardship, with officials warning that withdrawals can unintentionally affect entitlements. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) says many people don’t realise that once money is taken out of KiwiSaver, it is treated like any other cash asset — and in some cases, as income. That can influence payments such as the Accommodation Supplement or Temporary Additional Support. Graham Allpress, MSD’s group general manager of client service delivery, said the impact varies from person to person, but anyone considering a hardship…

ACT has welcomed cross‑party support for a parliamentary motion condemning antisemitism, following new data showing a continued rise in antisemitic incidents in New Zealand. The Antisemitism Worldwide Report recorded 143 incidents in 2025, up from 131 in 2024, 134 in 2023, and just eight in 2022—a trend consistent with the global surge in antisemitism seen over the past several years. All parties in Parliament agreed to ACT’s motion without notice, which stated: “That this House condemn all incidents of antisemitism in New Zealand, and affirm that antisemitism has no place here.” ACT Leader David Seymour said the unanimous support underscored…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has retained the National Party leadership after the caucus voted in support of him during a three‑hour meeting at Parliament today. Luxon delivered a brief statement afterwards, saying speculation about his leadership was “now closed”. He took no questions and said he would not take part in what he described as a “media soap opera”. National MPs leaving the meeting confirmed Luxon remained leader but did not disclose details of the vote, citing caucus confidentiality. The confidence motion followed a turbulent morning at Parliament, including senior whip Stuart Smith’s absence from caucus due…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Colin Thorne — the globally celebrated centenarian parkrunner and beloved Whangārei figure — has died aged 102, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, service and extraordinary determination. Thorne completed 265 parkruns over nine years, becoming one of the movement’s most admired participants worldwide. He was the first person on the planet aged over 100 to reach the 100‑parkrun milestone, a record unlikely to be matched any time soon. Even this month, after shifting to a wheelchair, he continued turning up on Saturday mornings, insisting on crossing the finish line on foot. Former Whangārei mayor Sheryl Mai and…

Update; Tuesday April 21 : 8:30 am Wellington remains under an active state of emergency with Red heavy‑rain warnings in place; people in low‑lying, flood‑prone and hill‑slope areas should stay alert, avoid travel where possible, and move to higher ground immediately if waters rise. Wellington’s Mayor Andrew Little told Ryan Bridge TODAY despite it being reasonably quiet overnight, he’s warning people “anything could happen today”. Little said Wellingtonians need to stay vigilant. “It looks like the worst is over… but anything could happen today.” Little said the rocky hillside where a lot of Wellington homes are located becomes porous once…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says legal verification of the New Zealand–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has been completed, with both countries agreeing to formally sign the deal on 27 April in New Delhi. The ceremony will take place in front of a large delegation of Indian and New Zealand business leaders. McClay says the agreement represents “once‑in‑a‑generation” access to a market of 1.4 billion people and an economy projected to become the world’s third largest. He argues the FTA is vital amid global instability and will allow New Zealand to begin the parliamentary treaty‑examination process,…

Rueters: Pope Leo urged Angolans on Sunday to overcome divisions after decades of bloody conflict in an address to an estimated 100,000 people who flocked to a Mass in a dirt field near the capital Luanda. In one of the biggest events of his four-nation Africa tour, the pope called Angola, which experienced a bloody, 27-year civil war from 1975 to 2002, a “beautiful yet wounded country.” He urged Angolans to “build together a country where old divisions are overcome once and for all, where hatred and violence disappear.” At the end of the Mass, the pope decried the recent…

By John Stonestreet/Breakpoint.org  Trans activists loudly claim that medicalizing gender confused youth is “settled science” and saves lives. This is meant to shut down any doubt or debate on this critically important topic. Thankfully, a few undeterred scholars are asking important questions and demonstrating just how false trans activists’ claims really are. An impressive new Finnish study, published in the Swedish academic journal Acta Paediatrica, is extending the damning conclusions of the UK’s 2024 Cass Review. The report was unequivocal in concluding that the so-called “settled science” of trans medicine “is an area of remarkably weak evidence” and the “reality…

OPINION: Oliver Hartwich. With energy prices spiking, an old idea has gathered fresh momentum: break up the big electricity companies. New Zealand First put the proposal on its agenda at the party’s State of the Nation address, calling for the four gentailers, companies that both generate and retail power, to be split apart. When people are hurting, the urge to do something is understandable. But doing something is not the same as doing the right thing. I should disclose that several gentailers, and Chorus, are members of The New Zealand Initiative, which I run. But the case against splitting them…

RNZ Pacific reporters The Fiji military has found itself at the centre of a national firestorm following the death of a wellknown drug peddler Jone Vakarisi in military custody last Thursday. Conflicting reports have emerged over the weekend regarding the death of Vakarisi, who was reportedly linked to major criminal networks. News of his death broke while top military and police brass were gathered on Bau Island, paying their final respects to the late President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau. The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), in a statement on Saturday, said Vakarisi’s death was due to “a sudden and severe…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com The Government has announced a package of temporary measures to help schools cope with soaring fuel costs caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with Education Minister Erica Stanford confirming increased mileage rates, cash grants for small schools, and accelerated replacement of diesel boilers. Stanford, speaking alongside Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, said she had instructed the Ministry of Education to contact every school to assess the impact of fuel‑price pressures and identify where immediate support was needed. She said the Government was preparing for “a range of potential future scenarios” as the fuel crisis continues…

By Sarah McMillan/cvnznews.com Updated 5pm Monday 20 April The Wellington region has been placed under a state of emergency as torrential rain, flash flooding and landslides hammer the lower North Island, with authorities warning the worst weather is still to come. MetService has upgraded Wellington and Wairarapa to red heavy‑rain warnings — its highest alert level — signalling a “threat to life” from dangerous river conditions, rapidly rising water, and widespread slips. The agency says slow‑moving thunderstorms are dumping intense, localised rain, with residents describing the downpours as “torrential” and streets turning into fast‑moving streams. Civil Defence says the situation…

By Colin Ambler/cvnznew.com New Zealand First has unveiled a new election policy aimed at breaking up the supermarket duopoly, arguing it will deliver fairer prices for families and restore balance for local food producers. The announcement comes as the party records its latest position in the 1News Verian Poll, alongside the newest preferred‑Prime‑Minister rating for leader Winston Peters. The party says New Zealanders have endured years of rising grocery bills while Woolworths and Foodstuffs control more than 80 percent of the market. The Commerce Commission has previously reported the two major chains earning around $1 million a day in excess…

By Colin Ambler/cvnznews.com The Green Party has used its 2026 State of the Planet address to argue that New Zealand must break its dependence on global fossil‑fuel markets and adopt a Government‑led National Electrification Plan. The speech comes as the party records its latest result in the 1News Verian Poll, a data point that continues to shape the political backdrop for its climate‑focused messaging. Co‑leader Marama Davidson opened the address by linking the Middle East crisis to New Zealand’s vulnerability to global energy shocks. She said the conflict was “first and foremost a human catastrophe”, citing civilian deaths, destroyed livelihoods…

By Manuel Ribeiro/Euronews. After visiting Cameroon, Angola is the third leg of Pope Leo XIV’s 11-day tour of Africa. People hope for appeals for peace and for him to tackle the economic woes of the oil- and rare-earth-rich nation. After visiting Cameroon, Pope Leo XIV landed in Luanda, Angola on Saturday, where he was welcomed by faithful. The Holy Father is about to become the third pontiff to visit Angola, after John Paul II (1992) and Benedict XVI (2009). Meanwhile, during Pope Leo XIV’s plane journey on Saturday he said that it was “not in my interest at all” to debate…

By Mike Bain/cvnznews.com Former senior Labour minister Michael Wood says he “lost balance” during his time in Cabinet and accepts full responsibility for the airport‑shares saga that forced his resignation in 2023. Speaking in an interview on TVNZ’s Q+A programme, Wood said he had begun the process of selling his Auckland Airport shares by instructing his broker, but admitted he failed to ensure the sale was completed. “I was a hard‑driving Cabinet minister, working 80 to 90 hours a week and pushing major reforms,” he told Q+A. “In parts of my life, I lost balance — and sorting out the…

By Saboor Sakhizada The US-Iran conflict reflects a fundamental strategic mismatch: Washington seeks swift victory, while Tehran aims for endurance and survival. Escalation and pressure alone have failed to produce decisive results, as Iran absorbs and adapts to challenges over time. A shift toward patient, incentive-based strategies is essential to reshape the conflict’s trajectory and avoid prolonging the war indefinitely. Despite the removal of senior Iranian officials, Operation Epic Fury has yet to deliver the outcome Washington sought. As of last week, following 21 hours of direct talks facilitated by Pakistan, the US walked away from negotiations with its Iranian counterparts. As US…

By PWN Staff. Meta’s reported development of an AI version of its founder Mark Zuckerberg has reignited an unusual but increasingly persistent conversation at the intersection of technology, identity, and ancient prophecy. According to reporting, the company is building a photorealistic, interactive digital version of Zuckerberg capable of engaging employees in real time–trained on his voice, mannerisms, and strategic thinking. What might sound like corporate innovation to some is, to others, a striking echo of imagery found in the Book of Revelation. In particular, the “image of the beast” described in Revelation has long fascinated theologians. The text describes a…