Te Pāti Māori is accused of avoiding scrutiny regarding allegations confidential census data was used to influence an electoral win by just 42 votes. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

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Briefing for 21 February 2025

Te Pāti Māori accused of dodging accountability over election data scandal

Te Pāti Māori seems to be in hiding after allegations surfaced that it used confidential census data to secure an electoral win by just 42 votes.

Broadcaster Duncan Garner calls out Debbie Ngarewa-Packer. Instead of facing scrutiny, she fled to the Cook Islands, marching in a protest that has nothing to do with New Zealand voters.

Greens bristle at Peters’ remarks, but their own identity politics raise questions

NZ First leader Winston Peters accused Green MP Ricardo Menéndez March of trying to change the country’s name without public mandate, pointing out that Menéndez March immigrated to New Zealand in 2006.

The Green MP called the comments “xenophobic” and criticised Prime Minister Christopher Luxon for failing to hold Peters accountable.

Tāmaki Makaurau seat under scrutiny: Was Manurewa Marae vote fair?

Takutai Kemp (Te Pāti Māori) won the Tāmaki Makaurau Māori electorate by just 42 votes (0.16%), but results at Manurewa Marae—where Kemp was CEO—are raising questions.

Kemp outperformed Labour’s Peeni Henare by 323 votes at this single polling station, a margin nearly eight times her overall victory and four times higher than at any other location.

Whistleblower advocate: Government cover-up and retaliation in Census data scandal

Employment advocate Allan Halse, representing whistleblowers in the Stats NZ data scandal, claims the controversy is far bigger than what has been publicly revealed.

He alleges a systemic cover-up, retaliation against whistleblowers, and government agencies using taxpayer money to silence dissent.

Winston Peters: NZ should ditch the Paris Climate Accord

Winston Peters is calling for New Zealand to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord, arguing the country is wasting billions while global superpowers ignore the deal.

According to The Country host Jamie Mackay, Peters was blunt: “What’s the use of being in when the US, China, and Russia aren’t there?”

NZ women giving birth are older than ever recorded

The median age of women giving birth in New Zealand reached 31.5 years in 2024, the highest since records began in 1962, according to Stats NZ. In 1972, the median age was 24.8, rising to 28.5 by 1994. This shift aligns with Census data showing more women are having fewer children.

Among women aged 50–54, the proportion who have never had children increased from 15% in 2013 to 17% in 2023. The share of women in this group with three or more children declined from 37% to 31%. Meanwhile, 44% of women aged 30–34 had never given birth in 2023, up from 36% in 2013.

Term deposit rates tumble—savers left scrambling

Savers are being squeezed as New Zealand’s major banks slash term deposit (TD) rates in response to last week’s 50-basis-point cut to the Official Cash Rate.

ANZ has led the charge downward, now offering 3.95% on 90-day deposits—the first major bank to drop below 4%.

Banks are showing little interest in competing for savers’ cash. Just days ago, rates over 5% were still available, but now only one main bank—ICBC—offers a TD rate at 5%.