Common Sense 14/02/2026
News
Main stories
National's Minister for Energy & Climate Change Simon Watts announced the construction of a $1b LNG facility in Taranaki on Monday, funded by a "small levy on electricity generation".
National’s LNG blunders are a warning ahead of election campaign - Marc Daalder (Newsroom)
LNG levy: Gas charges ‘likely be passed on to’ consumers, extent of power bill reduction open to ‘market dynamics’, officials warned - Jamie Ensor (NZH) (paywalled)
Government wants to bypass fast-track process for proposed liquefied natural gas terminal - Kate Newton (RNZ)
Most economic damage from gas crisis ‘locked in’, officials warn - Marc Daalder (Newsroom)
Winston Peters announced this week that NZ First would be campaigning in 2026 for a referendum on whether to abolish Māori seats from Parliament, the second time since 2017 he's campaigned on such a policy.
New Zealand First campaigning for referendum on Māori seats - Glenn McConnell (Stuff)
Māori seats referendum a Treaty Principles-sized headache for Luxon - Marc Daalder (Newsroom)
This week Australia was rocked by protests against the state visit of Israeli president Isaac Herzog, with Australia's new anti-protest laws being tested and a police response that is now being investigated by the NSW cop watchdog.
NSW police watchdog to investigate alleged police brutality at Sydney protest against Isaac Herzog - Caitlin Cassidy (Guardian)
NSW premier won’t apologise to Muslims after police grab men praying at rally against Isaac Herzog - Penry Buckley (Guardian)
Seven of my relatives were killed in Gaza. For me, Herzog’s visit was never an abstract debate - Shamikh Badra (Guardian)
The Christchurch mosque shooter this week was in Wellington court this week attempting to overturn his 2020 guilty plea and have his case heard again in court, blaming mental distress for forcing him to plead guilty, with survivors and friends and family of victims saying that this is another attempt from the shooter to seek attention.
Christchurch gunman seeks to appeal convictions and withdraw guilty plea - Eva Corlett (Guardian)
What to know about a mass shooter’s bid to undo his guilty pleas for the Christchurch mosque murders - Charlotte Graham-McLay (AP)
Christchurch terrorist exaggerating prison distress, psychologist tells court - Tim Brown (RNZ)
Christchurch terrorist just seeking attention with his appeal bid, survivor says (RNZ)
Round up
New poll predicts hung Parliament (RNZ)
'It's just not enough': Salvation Army warns families are starving - Penny Smith (RNZ)
'Nakedly political': No rivals considered for Judith Collins' new job - Craig McCulloch (RNZ)
Air NZ strike a 'last resort' as cabin crew struggle to pay rent, union says - Bill Hickman (RNZ)
'Hundreds of thousands' of files to be reviewed in council-led Mt Maunganui inquiry - Kim Baker Wilson (RNZ)
New satellite imagery shows recent storms triggered more than 11,000 slips on East Cape (RNZ)
US-NZ deal on critical minerals limited by fast-track denial - Fox Meyer (Newsroom)
Political parties generally sympathetic to easier access to NZ for Pacific Islanders - Russell Palmer (RNZ)
Retail crime advisory group disbands four months early - Jimmy Ellingham, Louisa Cleave, Giles Dexter (RNZ)
Auckland's international convention centre finally opens - Paris Ibell (RNZ)
Sea life returns to Maitai Bay, eight years after local hapū declares unofficial fishing ban - Peter de Graaf (RNZ)
Ex-ministry staffer accuses government of ignoring education experts, teachers (RNZ)
Finance Minister Nicola Willis keeps secret documents on if banks paying fair share of tax ahead of Budget 2026 - Jamie Ensor (NZH) (paywalled)
Talley’s appeals decision in defamation case with TVNZ, parties to return to court - Sam Smith (Stuff)
Kaipara open to forming breakaway council with Auckland’s north Rodney - Susan Botting (RNZ)
Sir John Key urges National against leadership change, concedes election will be tight - Sam Smith (Stuff)
Delicate dance over India trade deal as Labour sets its price - Sam Sachdeva (Newsroom)
Ahmed Zaoui released from Algerian prison after 28 months behind bars - Samuel Sherry (NZH)
New Zealand's corruption-free reputation takes hit for fourth-year in a row - survey (RNZ)
Pacific transit of narcotics raises alarm after a massive shipment is seized - Barbara Dreaver (1News)
Seabed mining firm hits back; agrees to not export critical minerals to China - Fox Meyer, Jonathan Milne (Newsroom)
Papatoetoe election re-run begins under scrutiny - Taelegalolo'u Mary Afemata (RNZ)
Mayor backs Auckland Museum's request for government funding - but it has no plans to help - Jessica Hopkins (RNZ)
Kiwi manager Brice Gordon interviewed by FBI in 2007 over Epstein ‘massages’, document shows - Chris Marriner (Stuff)
US judges dismiss lawsuits accusing Neil Gaiman of sexual assault - AP (Guardian)
National war memorial bell-playing job axed, likely to be outsourced to Australia - Phil Pennington (RNZ)
Opinion pieces / long form
The unshakeable Sunny Kaushal - Maddy Chapman (Spinoff)
Raw sewage still pouring into Wellington waters raises questions, and anger - Sharon Brettkelly (RNZ)
Why Auckland has weird politics - Joel MacManus (Spinoff)
Corruption klaxon blaring, but at least we can now hear it - Matt Nippert (NZH) (paywalled)
Record numbers of offshore New Zealanders hold key to next govt - Fox Meyer (Newsroom)
The Projection Machine: Epstein's Intellectual Network and the War on Trans People - Mohan J. Dutta
Did Nicola Willis just appoint Atlas Network connections to her surprise RBNZ Covid Inquiry? - Mountain Tūī
The Fossil Fuel Sector Wants a $1B Subsidy and You’ll Be Paying - Conspiracy of Equals
Our Changing World: Predator Free South Westland nears eradication goal (RNZ)
Is NZ defence and intelligence policy aligning with AUKUS in all but name? - Nicola Macaulay (RNZ)
‘Dunedin has a lot of nice, damaged men in it’ - Talia Marshall (Newsroom)
He’s shaping up as kingmaker again, but I think Winston Peters and NZ First have never been weaker - Joel Maxwell (Stuff)
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)
Queer as in Free Palestine Pop-up Saaloon - Auckland Pride + Justice for Palestine
Time: Saturday 14 February, 2-5pm
Location: Open Coffee, 553 Karangahape Road (koha)
Free Warm Kai
Time: Mondays weekly, 6-8pm
Location: Gemmayze St, St. Kevin's Arcade, Karangahape Road
Sweet Treats Speaks - Mia Crossan on Rainbow Action Tāmaki
Time: Thursday 19 February, 7:45pm
Location: Whammy Bar, St. Kevin's Arcade, Karangahape Road
Rainbow Action Tāmaki Rally + Launch Party
Time: Sunday 22 February, 12-3pm
Location: Auckland Women's Centre
How to en"Roll" This Gov - Join a lineup of comedians & MPs for a brutally honest take on the current political landscape of Aotearoa today
Time: Wednesday 25 February, 6:30pm
Location: Q Theatre, CBD (ticketed)
Toitū: Visual Sovereignty - South Asian Solidarities Special Q&A Screening
Time: Sunday 1 March
Location: Capitol Cinema, Balmoral
350 Aotearoa x Everybody Eats Auction Dinner 2026
Time: Friday 6 March, 6:30-9pm
Location: Everybody Eats, 306 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland (ticketed)
Time: Saturday 7 March, 8:30am - Sunday 8 March, 5pm
Location: Auckland University / The Taro Patch, Papatoetoe (RSVP)
UnionAID Quiz Fundraiser 2026 - Raising funds for international union partners in Asia and the Pacific
Time: Thursday 12 March, 5:30pm - 8:30pm
Location: NZEI / NZNO offices, 101 Carlton Gore Road (ticketed)
Tauranga Moana
Aroha in Action - Community fundraiser for landslide victims
Time: Saturday 21 February, 2pm
Location: 1 Enterprise Drive, Pāpāmoa
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)
Pedal for Palestine Bike Rally
Time: Saturday 21 February, 12pm
Location: Pukeahu War Memorial
Ōtautahi (Christchurch)
Alliance Party - 2026 General Election Campaign Conference
Time: Saturday 14 February, 10am
Location: Helen Kelly Room, Trade Union Centre, 68 Langdons Road, Christchurch
Protest against the US military's presence at Christchurch Airport
Time: Saturday 14 February, 11am
Location: Meet at Spitfire Square, Christchurch International Airport
Protest at David Seymour's "State of the Nation" speech
Time: Sunday 15 February, 9:30am
Location: Rydges Hotel, 30 Latimar Square
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