Common Sense - 20/12/2025
This may be the last newsletter for the year depending on who is around, but we’ll be back in 2026 to continue bringing you a range of links and events! Reach out on social if you have any thoughts or event shout-outs as we endeavour to build a comprehensive weekly update.
News
Main stories
Ministry conglomeration - 1/200 podcast episode about the overarching changes to Regional politics, RMA and Ministries.
HYEFU - a couple of comments from Musical Chairs and Craig Renney
Parliament wrapped for the year on Friday this week ending a chaotic year in New Zealand politics, and finishing on a poll which showed Labour leading National 38% to 30%. (NZH / Andrea Vance, Stuff)
Disgraced former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming was sentenced to 9 months home detention on Thursday, avoiding jail and the sex offender list. Jevon McSkimming sentencing: why a public inquiry into the police should be next by Anna Marie Brennan (The Conversation)
The Bondi Beach massacre on Sunday, where 16 people at a Chabad Hanukkah festival were shot by an ISIS-connected father and son, has become a heavily politicised issue in Australia and abroad. The right has blamed the attack partly on the Palestinian solidarity movement, and NSW Premier Chris Minns announced reforms to restrict public gatherings and protests during high-risk periods.
In Australia, the Bondi Beach massacre is impossible for most of us to fathom. But taking a cue from America, the right wing here sees a dark opportunity. The Boomerang Swings Back by Patrick Marlborough (Slate)
The House: Divergence, messaging and word choice inside party responses to Bondi attack by Phil Smith (RNZ)
In aftermath of the Bondi attacks, social media has been occupied by AI-generated deepfakes and manipulated “breaking news” content designed to mislead, inflame, and spread fear. How to Spot a Deep Fake by Dr Cassandra Mudgway (1/200)
Round up
The Green Party has pledged to revoke fast track consents for mining projects, the same week the highly controversial Waihi North mine in the Coromandel bush receives the green light under the scheme. (Giles Dexter, RNZ)
A judge has overturned the Papatoetoe local board results, finding widespread electoral fraud "infected" the election in one of New Zealand's only convictions for the crime and forcing a new vote. (Hayden Donnell, Spinoff)
The Professional Association for Transgender Healthcare Aotearoa (PATHA) won a High Court case on Wednesday, delaying enforcement of the government's ban on puberty blockers for those under 18 pending a judicial review. (Good Law Project)
David Seymour promises to reignite his Treaty principles bill debate for election year in 2026. (Craig McCulloch, RNZ)
Rights Aotearoa has won a High Court case ruling that Human Rights Commissioner Stephen Rainbow and Race Relations Commissioner Melissa Derby were appointed unlawfully, with the appointer Minister of Justice Paul Goldsmith now considering an appeal. (Lillian Hanly, RNZ)
ASB has divested from investments in Motorola after months pressure from Justice for Palestine due to the company's involvement in illegal Israeli settlements. (Justice for Palestine, Scoop)
Taxi and public transport subsidies for elderly and disabled people will be cut from 75% to 65%, affecting 120,000 people. (Russell Palmer, RNZ)
The High Court has ordered Corrections to stop breaking the law and allow prisoners their legally required daily hour outside of their cell. (Laura Walters, Newsroom)
The government's latest pay offer to primary school teachers under the NZEI union has been rejected, calling for something that "addresses cost-of-living pressures and upholds their professional claims". (John Gerritsen, RNZ)
Julian Batchelor, the man behind 2023's "co-governance roadshow", revealed in court on Tuesday that his defamation case against TVNZ was being bankrolled by Canadian billionaire and NZME director Jim Grenon. (Joel MacManus, Spinoff)
The Bangerz Trust behind the attempted charter school takeover of Kelston Boys High School is being investigated by police for allegedly attempting to illegally access the school's computer systems. (Indira Stewart, RNZ)
Auckland duty lawyers are taking industrial action for a week next month, pushing the Ministry of Justice for better pay and working conditions. (Finn Blackwell, RNZ)
Opinion pieces / long form
When Chlöe met Corbyn – and Varoufakis and Piketty and Polanski and Mazzucato and… by Max Rashbrooke (The Spinoff)
Economic management should be about economics, not marketing by Rob Campbell (Newsroom)
Journal of New Zealand Studies - Issue 40
Who Benefits: How monopoly money bought NZ’s gambling scene by Fox Meyer (Newsroom)
Caught in a "Kill-Web": New Zealand and America's 2025 National Security Strategy by Smith K. Stead
Gig Guide
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Saturday - 20/12
2:00pm - Palestine rally at Te Komititanga, CBD
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Sunday - 21/12
11am Flags @Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui
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Saturday - 20/12
1pm Flags @Flynn Park (cnr Wairere Dr & Cambridge Rd)
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Saturday - 20/12
11.30am Rally @Soundshell Roundabout
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Saturday - 20/12
1–2.30pm Palestine in the Park (meditation for Gaza followed by shared kai & flags) @Pukeahu Park on Taranaki St
7.30pm–2.30am Pōneke for Palestine fundraiser gig @Meow, 9 Edward St
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Saturday - 20/12
1:00pm - Palestine rally at the Bridge of Remembrance
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Saturday - 20/12
12pm Flags, silent protest & boycott @Railway Station then head to the Octagon & the Mall
Further Palestine actions across the country can be found collated by our friend @Funksta-uzz on Bluesky
If you want to help us resource and continue improving our round up and gig guide please consider supporting us on Patreon