Common Sense - 07/02/2026

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Waitangi Day fell on Friday this year, with a rough reception for the coalition parties at Te Tii marae. Luxon attended after skipping last year, trying to brush off heckles and accusations that the government is "anti-Maori". Ngāi Tahu returned to Waitangi for the first time in years, following "the events of this particular term of government" and previous calls from the late Kingi Tūheitia for unity. Greens and Labour held a joint press conference in "a show of unity" on Tuesday, while neither party announced new policy. Seymour was booed Friday morning at the dawn service after he attempted to speak about "the struggle for democratic freedom in Iran", among other topics.

The government is going ahead on a "critical minerals deal" with the United States first reported on last week. Luxon hasn't yet committed to public consultation on the deal, with MFAT officials now in Washington beginning preliminary negotiations. Concerns have been raised about environmental impacts by the opposition, and the undermining of Māori sovereignty by Greenpeace.

The fast track approvals panel has rejected plans to mine over a billion tonnes of seabed for vanadium off the coast of Taranaki, finding "concerns on almost every aspect" in regards to the project's environmental effects. Environmental groups like Greenpeace and Kiwis Against Seabed Mining have welcomed the decision, with KASM chairperson Cindy Baxter calling it "a victory for the moana, for all the people across Taranaki and Aotearoa, from Iwi and hapu and councils and everyone who loves our ocean".

At 1am Wednesday, equipment failure at the Wellington Moa Point wastewater treatment plant resulted in the facility flooding, sending a stream of raw sewage out across Wellington's south coast. The Moa Point facility, operated by a French multi-national infrastructure contractor, is 70% of the facility flooded with 80% of equipment damaged, with Wellington Water's chief executive Pat Dougherty saying it would likely be months before the plant was fully repaired.

New unemployment data was released by Stats NZ on Wednesday, showing that unemployment levels are the worst they've been since 2015, rising to 5.4%. 164,000 people in New Zealand are currently unemployed, with 39,000 added in the past two years. You can check out analysis from Craig Renney and Musical Chairs.

Round up

‘A combat sport’ – Luxon fronts up to iwi chairs at Waitangi - Marc Daalder (Newsroom)

Peeni Henare 'stepping back', won't be contesting Tāmaki Makaurau seat at election - Lillian Hanly (RNZ)

National mission to launch sovereign satellite kept under wraps by officials - Phil Pennington (RNZ)

Court upgrade halts all new law and order policies - Laura Walters (Newsroom)

Second town red-listed by AA Insurance for new home insurance policies - Kate Newton (RNZ)

Driver licence system overhaul unveiled (RNZ)

The Epstein files and NZ: Managers, models and the Kiwi billionaire - Joel MacManus (Spinoff)

Auckland professor associated with Jeffrey Epstein - Steve Braunias (Newsroom)

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown mocks government's proposal to cap rates (RNZ)

New Zealand World War I graves among those bulldozed at Gaza cemetery (NZH)

Wellington Deputy Mayor Ben McNulty censured by Mayor for calling member of the public ‘nonce’ - Ethan Manera (NZ Herald)

Opinion pieces / long form

Waitangi remembers. Politics moves on - Liam Rātana (Spinoff)

Latest extreme weather a test for Govt’s plan to reduce buyouts - Marc Daalder (Newsroom)

Under Trump, the US’ need for enemies is accelerating - Dr. Chris Ogden (Newsroom)

Gig Guide

Online

ASTR (Asians Supporting Tino Rangatiratanga) in Action: Ten Years of Solidarity Webinar

Time: Saturday 14 March, 11:00am
Link: www.tinyurl.com/ASTR10

Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)

Merdaka - West Papua Solidarity Forum Fundraiser

Time: Saturday 7 February, 10pm
Location: Whammy Bar, St. Kevin's Arcade, Karangahape Road
Details: Fundraiser for March's West Papua Solidarity Forum to fly Papuans to New Zealand, featuring Hasji b2b DJ Twice, VIDA, Kaiviti b2b Half Queen, Liv Ward, ($20 tickets from UTR)

Trans Politics Workshop