There is an old political lesson which Christopher Luxon and the National Party would do well to remember: If you stand for nothing, you get run over. National is currently polling at around 29 percent. That is an extraordinary position for a first-term Government facing an Opposition still burdened by the failures of the Ardern years. I say that with some reluctance. I know from personal experience how difficult it is to lead the National Party, and I have no desire to pretend that the task...

The following is written in Don's capacity as Hobson's Pledge trustee Yesterday, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Parliamentary Under-Secretary Simon Court announced that the Environment Committee has reported back on the Government’s new planning legislation. As you know, the current Resource Management Act (RMA) is being replaced with two new Bills – the Planning Bill and the Natural Environment Bill. Crucially, the Cabinet has agreed to an eleventh-hour amendment: existing and...

The following is written in Don's capacity as Hobson's Pledge trustee When we launched our Professionals, not Politicians campaign, we knew ideological capture had taken deep root in professions across New Zealand. But a chilling new example has just come to light—and it proves exactly why we must draw a line in the sand right now. Our public servants are also being targeted and are no longer just being asked to implement political agendas. They are now being legally compelled to adopt...