Common Sense - 31/01/2026
News
Main stories
New Zealand's longest-serving woman parliamentarian, Judith "Crusher" Collins, has announced her retirement this week, ending a 26-year career as a National MP to become head of the Law Commission by the middle of this year. The oldest currently sitting woman parliamentarian, Green MP Celia Wade-Brown, also announced she would be stepping down ahead of the 2026 election. (Russell Palmer, RNZ / Stuff)
The fallout of the Mount Maunganui landslide disaster continued this week, with calls for a government inquiry reaching Luxon this week, further information showing that risks around the site have been known for years, and experts warning that landslides could worsen with further climate change. (Phil Pennington, RNZ / Eva Corlett, The Guardian)
Deadly storms expose growing gap between disaster recovery and climate preparation (Kirsty Johnston, RNZ)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed that the government is currently in backroom talks with the US on a "non-binding critical minerals framework", with Waitangi Tribunal claimants arguing the negotiation undermines Te Tiriti obligations to Māori. (Fox Meyer, Newsroom)
After "considering" the invitation, Luxon has confirmed that New Zealand won't join Trump's "Board of Peace" initiative in its "current form", after concerns about the Board's governance and heavy condemnation from the opposition. (RNZ)
Following ACT's refusal to back anti-modern slavery legislation, National and Labour are using the new co-sponsorship rule for the first time to skip the biscuit tin and introduce to Parliament a long-awaited bill against modern slavery in New Zealand and globally. (RNZ)
Round up
PM Luxon's popularity has sunk to its lowest point in a year according to the latest TPU-Curia poll, now sitting at -17% in net favourability. (Andrea Vance, The Post, paywalled)
Finance Minister Nicola Willis has announced the date for 2026's Budget Day, May 28, and said "cost-savings" will again be a key feature, with "no splashing of cash". Treasury has also advised Willis to return to the 2024 briefing invitation model to avoid "heightened reputational risk", following the debacle over certain individuals being excluded in 2025. (Rachel Maher, NZH / Alice Peacock, Newsroom)
The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) has released a statement calling the shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minneapolis "disgusting", and expressing "solidarity with health workers everywhere and ... all peoples aspiring for freedom from an oppressive system and unprovoked attacks". (RNZ)
Auckland Council has sold the council-owned Auckland Film Studios in Henderson to film and TV lighting company Xytech for an undisclosed sum, with the property itself being previously valued at over $30m. (Shayne Currie, NZH, paywalled)
The Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) union is demanding answers from Health NZ following a 12-hour major IT outage across the upper North Island health system, causing major disruptions for staff and patients. (Delphine Herbert, RNZ)
The Government plans to give itself the ability to temporarily suspend the requirement for consumer protections to be put in place in the building sector in the new Building Act overhaul, which could leave home owners to cover the costs of defective work on their properties. (Jenée Tibshraeny, NZH, paywalled)
Over half of the members on the controversial and Sunny Kaushal-chaired Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime have resigned early over the past month, with one citing a "very unpleasant environment". (Louisa Cleave & Jimmy Ellingham, RNZ)
FENZ executives have been questioned by National MPs in a parliamentary select committee over what they're "doing" to stop firefighters from adding union signs and messaging to their trucks, with the NZPFU head responding that "putting information on the appliances so that the public can understand what we are fighting for is not disrespectful." (Adam Burns & Phil Pennington, RNZ)
One of Te Pāti Māori's policies for 2026 announced this week is prison abolition by 2040 in favour of community-led solutions, with Labour leader Hipkins saying that the party "would never support" the policy. (Julia Gabel, NZH)
Ngāpuhi leaders are calling on the government to pause its Treaty settlement mandate process in Te Tai Tokerau, describing it as "divisive", "rushed", and against the collective interests of hapū. (Layla Bailey-McDowell, RNZ)
A new RNZ-Reid Research poll found that 25% of respondents reported little to no trust in police, with 70% having at least a "fair amount". (Lillian Hanly, RNZ)
Opinion pieces / long form
Te Pāti Māori wants to abolish prisons. The idea is not just a fantasy - Liam Rātana (The Spinoff)
A brief history of vegetation on Mauao and the need for a climate risk reduction election - Manu Caddie
Inside the wrangling over transgender sports guidelines: How NZ First flexed its coalition muscle - Derek Chang (NZH, paywalled)
"An injury to one is an injury to all": Part 2 - Rising, Aotearoa New Zealand's forgotten socialist revolution - Ryan Ward
Doing more with what we already have: a challenge to the abundance agenda - Max Rashbrooke (The Spinoff)
It’s only “terrorism” if they’re not white - Dave Milner (The Shot)
Gig Guide
Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
“We Did Do It” - Celebrating the Contributions of Working Wāhine in Aotearoa Wikipedia Edit-a-thon
- Time: Saturday 31 January, 10am - 1pm
- Location: Auckland Museum Research Library, Auckland
Toitū Te Aroha - Uniting to protect our communities against Destiny Church
- Time: Saturday 31 January, 11am (or [walking bus from Auckland University at 10:30am](https://www.instagram.com/p/DTt5L37EiNV))
- Location: Te Komititanga to Aotea Square
Palestine banner making
- Time: Sunday 1 February, 10am–9pm
- Location: Corban Estate Art Centre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson
- Time: Sunday 8 February, 2:30-5:30pm
- Location: Pioneer Women's Hall, Ellen Melville Centre
Queer as in Free Palestine pop-up saloon - Auckland Pride + Justice for Palestine
- Time: Saturday 14 February, 2-5pm
- Location: Open Coffee, 553 Karangahape Rd
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
350 Aotearoa x Everybody Eats Auction Dinner 2026
- Time: Friday 6 March, 6:30-9pm
- Location: Everybody Eats, 306 Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland
- Time: Saturday 7 March, 8:30am - Sunday 8 March, 5pm
- Location: Auckland University / The Taro Patch, Papatoetoe
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
Kirikiriroa (Hamilton)
Storm the Station - Our Future is Rail
- Time: Sunday 1 February, 2-3pm
- Location: Frankston Station
Te-Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)
Pedal for Palestine bike rally
- Time: Saturday 21 February, 12pm
- Location: Pukeahu War Memorial
Ōtautahi (Christchurch)
Asians Supporting Tino Rangitiratanga Waitangi Day commemoration
- Time: Friday 6 February, 12pm
- Location: Victoria Park, Cashmere
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