New Zealand was among the only 13 nations that met the UN's February deadline for submitting updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) on carbon emissions. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Great minds share alike. Pass it on!

Economy

Health

Briefing for 15 February 2025

Why is New Zealand sticking to UN climate rules when everyone else is walking away?

Nearly every major country ignored the UN’s February deadline to submit new emissions-reduction plans—except for New Zealand and a handful of others.

While global powers like China, India, and the EU delayed or outright ignored the requirement, New Zealand lined up with just nine other nations to comply.

Shane Jones criticises Tākuta Ferris for not apologising in English after Privileges Committee report

Shane Jones has accused Te Pāti Māori MP Tākuta Ferris of showing contempt for Parliament by apologising only in te reo Māori after being found in contempt by the Privileges Committee.

The committee ruled Ferris deliberately misled the House by denying he had called MPs “liars” during a debate last September.

Is gender identity ‘contagious’? A new study raises questions

A Finnish study suggests mental health conditions may spread among adolescents through peer influence, raising questions about whether the same applies to gender dysphoria.

A Harvard analysis finds that only 0.1% of US minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria receive puberty blockers or hormones, despite over 3% of high school students identifying as transgender. If transitions are so rare, why has this issue dominated political debate?

Marc Spring: “Luxon has allowed the left to stay in the game”

Christopher Luxon’s leadership is failing to connect with voters, according to indy journalist Marc Spring, who says, “There is a deep dissatisfaction with our PM.”

Spring argues that Luxon’s weak approach has squandered National’s advantage, allowing Labour to stay in the fight when they should have been politically crushed.

Graham Adams: Hipkins’ stance on democracy leaves Labour vulnerable

Chris Hipkins’ reluctance to immediately reject Te Pāti Māori’s proposed Māori commissioner with veto power over Parliament has reignited concerns about Labour’s commitment to democracy, argues Graham Adams.

While Hipkins later ruled it out, his initial hesitation raises a key question: “Exactly how dedicated is the party to ensuring that every New Zealander has a vote of equal value to everyone else’s?” Adams asks.

Microsoft cuts ties with USAID-funded “fact-checking” outfit NewsGuard

Microsoft has quietly severed ties with NewsGuard, a left-wing fact-checking outfit that has helped advertisers blacklist conservative media.

The move comes after US Senator Ted Cruz, a Republican from Texas, launched an investigation into NewsGuard’s funding and influence, revealing its ties to USAID and its history of labelling right-leaning outlets as “unreliable” while giving favourable ratings to progressive publications.

Wānaka McDonald’s and New Zealand’s ‘culture of no’

The ACT Party is calling the rejection of a McDonald’s in Wānaka a prime example of New Zealand’s “culture of no,” arguing that bureaucratic red tape and local opposition are stifling investment and economic growth.

“Clearly there was demand for a McDonald’s, but would-be customers now miss out because noisy opponents were able to weaponise a planning regime that is hostile to development,” said ACT’s environment spokesperson, Cameron Luxton.