Broadcaster Ryan Bridge said the PPTA was overstating claims of extremism in classrooms, noting that students expressing support for Trump or wanting to be traditional wives were simply showing political or social views, not radicalisation. ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏

Great minds share alike. Pass it on!

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Briefing for 30 Sept 2025

Are ‘Trump boys’ really extremists, or just kids with opinions?

Broadcaster Ryan Bridge has waded into the debate sparked by the PPTA’s warning, alleging rising extremism in New Zealand classrooms, arguing the issue is being overstated.

“Apparently, some kids say they’re ‘Trump boys’ – i.e. like a majority of Americans, a few kids here support the Republican Party or MAGA movement. The other problem, apparently, is some school girls saying they want to be trad-wives, or traditional wives,” Bridge told listeners.

Local Government Code of Conduct raises sovereignty concerns

A new draft Code of Conduct for councils is sparking criticism, with Pee Kay at No Minister warning it amounts to a Trojan horse for race-based privilege.

The draft, prepared by the Local Government Commission, incorporates Treaty “principles” such as tino rangatiratanga, partnership, equity, active protection and options.

Are ‘microplastics’ to blame for surging rates of bowel cancer among young Kiwis?

Doctors are warning of a sharp and unexplained rise in bowel cancer among people under 50, with rates growing by about 25% per decade, and up to 35% for Māori.

Traditional risk factors such as red meat, smoking, and alcohol are declining, yet more younger New Zealanders are being diagnosed. Frizelle said genes hadn’t changed, pointing instead to environmental factors: “Something in the environment that we’re not seeing as bad is probably triggering this.”

Government defies warnings, doubles down on Māori coastline law

The government is pushing ahead with changes to the Marine and Coastal Areas Act (MACA) that will make it harder for iwi and hapū to gain customary marine title (CMT).

The moves comes despite repeated advice that the retrospective reach of the law could cost taxpayers up to $20 million.

Auckland University set to drop compulsory te ao Māori course; Seymour hails ‘massive victory’

The University of Auckland is poised to scrap its compulsory first-year courses on the Treaty of Waitangi and te ao Māori.

The academic senate recommended making them optional following negative staff and student feedback.

ACT leader David Seymour called the shift a “massive victory for people,” arguing students should be free to shape their own study.

Residents blindsided by fast-track plan to double Auckland Prison capacity

Corrections is seeking to expand Auckland Prison’s designation from 681 to 1220 beds under fast-track legislation.

Gen Z is losing handwriting — and maybe basic communication skills

For 5,500 years, handwriting has been central to human communication. But new research suggests Generation Z may be the first to lose it.

A University of Stavanger study reports that about 40 percent of young people born between the late 1990s and early 2010s struggle to communicate effectively by hand.