The Burnett Foundation itself defined “bussy” during the time Green MP Benjamin Doyle worked there, contradicting media figures who framed it as adult-oriented slang. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

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Briefing for 5 April 2025

More ‘controvussy’: Burnett Foundation’s own words sink Doyle defenders

In an interview with The Platform, researcher Holyhekatuiteka dismantled the mainstream media narrative that Green MP Benjamin Doyle’s use of the term “bussy” referred to a consenting adult.

Instead, he pointed to the government-funded Burnett Foundation’s own definition—posted throughout Doyle’s time there—explicitly stating “‘bussy’ (boy-*ussy)” is about a boy, not a man.

The post is unambiguous.

Majority of Kiwis believe media are lying to them

A new report confirms what many New Zealanders already feel: the media can’t be trusted.

According to the 2025 Acumen Edelman Trust Barometer, 61% of Kiwis believe journalists are deliberately misleading the public, while 68% say it’s becoming harder to tell if a news story is from a reputable source or someone trying to deceive them.

Trump targets trade deficits with 10% tariffs — NZ caught in the crossfire

President Trump’s sweeping new 10% tariffs are aimed squarely at fixing trade imbalances — including New Zealand’s.

Despite officials pitching the policy as “reciprocal,” the Trump administration isn’t matching tariff rates.

Instead, it’s targeting countries with persistent trade surpluses, like New Zealand, and imposing a blanket 10% duty on most imports.

Teacher faces complaint for criticising Treaty bill opposition, sparking free speech debate

A teacher who criticised the Teaching Council’s opposition to the Government’s Treaty Principles Bill is under investigation after a public complaint accused her of breaching professional standards.

The teacher posted on Facebook: “The Maorification of school life is going too far… What is NZ First going to do about this?”

Takeovers Panel reviewing Grenon’s NZME share buys for possible code breach

New Zealand’s Takeovers Panel is investigating whether NZME investor Jim Grenon’s recent share purchases in the company complied with the Takeovers Code.

The Panel is examining whether Grenon was an “associate” of major shareholders Caniwi Capital and Spheria Asset Management when he acquired 1.2 million shares on 4 March, which could mean the purchases breached rule 6(1)(a) of the Code.

Stephen Rainbow accused of Islamophobia after misrepresenting SIS threat report

Chief Human Rights Commissioner Stephen Rainbow is facing calls to resign after allegedly making Islamophobic comments during a February meeting with Jewish community leader Philippa Yasbek.

According to Yasbek, Rainbow claimed Muslims posed a greater threat to New Zealand’s Jewish community than white supremacists—directly contradicting the NZSIS 2024 threat assessment, which identifies white identity-motivated violent extremism as the country’s dominant threat.

Navy crew unprepared, ship unfit for mission before Samoa sinking – inquiry finds

A damning Court of Inquiry report into the October 2024 sinking of HMNZS Manawanui has found the ship’s crew was under-trained, its leadership distracted, and the vessel itself unfit for the hydrographic survey mission it was tasked with near Samoa.

The ship ran aground on a reef off Upolu while on autopilot, with no one qualified onboard to conduct the survey work. Twenty out of 45 personnel had deficiencies, and there weren’t enough crew to maintain effective watch rotations.