Independent Analysis and Reportage
POLITICAL BYTES: By Ian Powell On June 6, I published a Political Bytes post criticising the mis-named “Free Speech Union” (FSU) for opposing the exercise of free speech, in the context of fulfilling his duty of care for student wellbeing, by Otago University vice-chancellor Grant Robertson when raising a personal concern: Opposing free speech in
COMMENTARY: By Saige England Failing To Report for Duty I’m feeling guilty at not writing down all the speeches: the speeches by people whose voices I recorded, the speeches by people whose notes I photographed, like the speech by Mark the impassioned unionist, who pointed out that the bastards on the top floor are still
Cook Island News Independent candidates are replacing traditional political parties in the Cook Islands, argues a veteran former politician — a claim rejected by a party leader who dismisses independents as a significant election threat. Former Cook Islands Parliament speaker, deputy prime minister and cabinet minister Norman George weighs in on the political landscape as
COMMENTARY: By Eva Karene Bartlett During the ongoing Israeli genocide of Gaza, Palestinian journalists have been courageously reporting under Israel’s bombs, drones and snipers. More than 260 journalists have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October 2023 alone. Reporting on Israeli bombardments and firing continues to be extremely dangerous for Palestinian journalists, who are completely
COMMENTARY: By Lim Tean Trump’s Iran “deal” isn’t a deal. It’s hos third retreat in four months. April 2026: 48-hour ultimatum, then a two-week delay. July: “13 straight days of strikes,” then a pause “to give peace talks some space.” August 1: a fresh wave of attacks cancelled — the one he’d just threatened —
EDITORIAL: By The Daily Blog editor and publisher Martyn Bradbury Comrades. The Daily Blog is New Zealand’s largest leftwing blog; we have been around for 13 years. We’ve had many fights over the years. This one is perhaps the most alarming. WATCH: The Bradbury Group Breaking: Free Speech Issue TDB has been served legal directives
REVIEW: By Olivia Rosane It’s a commonly repeated statistic that the US military is the world’s largest institutional polluter, but what exactly does that mean? The quest to find a real answer to that question led journalist and documentary filmmaker Abby Martin and her husband and co-director Mike Prysner on a five-year journey from defence
COMMENTARY: By +972 podcast presenter Alaa Salama As +972 Magazine’s audience engagement manager, social media is a huge part of my job. I use it daily — not only to promote the magazine’s articles, but also to gauge audience reactions, opinions, and ideas regarding our work. We simply cannot escape using social media: Most of
By Patrick Decloitre of RNZ Pacific A member of New Caledonia’s Eveil Océanien kingmaker’s party, Milakulo Tukumuli, has been elected as the new President of the territory’s “collegial” government. He was elected by New Caledonia’s 54-member Congress during a special sitting on Friday where the 11 members of the French Pacific territory’s government were elected.
COMMENTARY: By Eugene Doyle The Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand was typically restrained, dignified but crystal clear when he responded to Foreign Minister Winston Peter’s racist outburst in Parliament this week. Wang Xiaolong said on X: “We have absolutely no interest in being dragged into the domestic politics of other countries. Suffice it to say,
By Layla Bailey-McDowell of RNZ New Zealand’s Waitangi Tribunal has found the Crown breached multiple principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi by approving plans to repeal and weaken Treaty protections across 18 pieces of legislation, warning the changes would cause “significant prejudice” to Māori and further damage the Māori-Crown relationship. In its report, Te Tinihanga
By Christina Persico of RNZ Pacific World Rugby has denied reports that it gave Samoa an ultimatum to sort out problems over which body governs the sport in the country, or face a ban from international competition. This follows reports that the Samoan government was given 24 hours — until Friday — to accept a