‘If I had the choice again, I would not fight in that war’ Tā Robert (“Bom”) Nairn Gillies

Growing up, we, as Māori, were always treated as second-class citizens. To be honest, when I served, I was a young man, and there were things that I was not aware of, but I always felt something was there, and there are things that, as I have become wiser, I have become more aware of. The Crown was happy to treat us as second-class citizens, yet when they needed us, they were happy to use us. After returning I remember my wife and I, we went to Hamilton to see her brother playing the British Isles. I went to the hotel office to change a 5-pound note, and the girl at the office complained to her manager about me being there. These small things stick in my mind, and I will never forget it. I had served for a country that did not, and still does not, respect me as a Māori. . . . → Read More: ‘If I had the choice again, I would not fight in that war’ Tā Robert (“Bom”) Nairn Gillies

Follow the money – it’s enough to buy surgeons tropical cruises

It is becoming increasingly clear that Government funding decisions are strongly oriented towards the for-profit private health sector rather than addressing the critical needs of our health system. . . . → Read More: Follow the money – it’s enough to buy surgeons tropical cruises

Ian Taylor: Seymour’s rise to the second seat with power far beyond his mandate

David Seymour sets the tone during maiden deputy PM speech

Source June 10, 2025 PDF

Ian Taylor: Seymour’s rise to the second seat with power far beyond his mandate Ian Taylor

Sir Ian Taylor is the founder and managing director of Animation Research.

https://exposures.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/videoplayback.mp4

David Seymour sets the tone during maiden deputy PM speech

OPINION: I have to confess, I underestimated David Seymour.

. . . → Read More: Ian Taylor: Seymour’s rise to the second seat with power far beyond his mandate

Left bloc would have enough support to turf coalition government out of power – poll

Left bloc would have enough support to turf coalition government out of power – poll After the Budget and pay equity changes the left bloc would have the support to turf the coalition out of power, the latest RNZ-Reid Research poll shows. The preferred prime minister and leadership ratings are also bad news for . . . → Read More: Left bloc would have enough support to turf coalition government out of power – poll

‘I asked Queen Elizabeth II if she had any advice for me’: Jacinda Ardern on her time as a pregnant prime minister

But for all this support, my pregnancy added a new kind of pressure. I was only the second world leader in history to have a baby in office. The first was Benazir Bhutto. She was the first woman to lead Pakistan, and in 1990, two years into her first term in office she had a baby girl. I didn’t think the world’s eyes were on me, but I did think naysayers’ were. Those who might be waiting to say: See, you can’t do a demanding job like that and be a mother. . . . → Read More: ‘I asked Queen Elizabeth II if she had any advice for me’: Jacinda Ardern on her time as a pregnant prime minister

‘Empathy is a kind of strength’: Jacinda Ardern on kind leadership, public rage and life in Trump’s America – The Guardian

It sounds as if she feels she has been unfairly attacked over her approach to Covid. At this suggestion, Ardern goes very still and quiet, and I suddenly realise she has tears in her eyes. “I find Covid really hard,” she says, swallowing her words. “I had a conversation up north, after I’d left office. I was wandering around some markets and I could feel this young woman looking at me, so when she caught my eye I said hello, and we struck up a conversation, and it turned out that she was a teacher who’d had an adverse reaction to the vaccine. And because she didn’t get the second dose, she had stopped working in teaching.” The New Zealand vaccine mandate meant that people in some professions were required to have it. “We talked about the fact that we, of course, had an exemption regime, but for some reason it hadn’t worked out for her. It was the kind of conversation that I just wish I could have with everyone: when everything isn’t distilled down into black and white. But the world leaves so little space for that now. And I feel very sad about that.” . . . → Read More: ‘Empathy is a kind of strength’: Jacinda Ardern on kind leadership, public rage and life in Trump’s America – The Guardian

Review: EBOPers impress

It was a full house at Mata Beer last Saturday night when the EBOPers Big Band, featuring The Tequila Mockingbirds, put on a super-impressive performance. The EBOPers were formed out of the EBOP Brass Band in 2014, and are now established performers on the local circuit. . . . → Read More: Review: EBOPers impress

What a wild week in politics it has been

Here are some key takeaways from the Budget yesterday: Cuts to support for families Cuts to government contributions to KiwiSaver Theft of $12.8 billion from the lowest earning women Tax breaks to business Ongoing fossil fuel extraction with $200 million going into new gas exploration projects No commitments to ending child poverty . . . → Read More: What a wild week in politics it has been

Meet Anne and Phillip of Waikaretu

Anne and Phillip lived 5 kms down the road. To give you an idea of what that meant, if I walked to their farm I passed 4 other houses. In those first couple of years I went there a lot. They looked after me. They rescued me. . . . → Read More: Meet Anne and Phillip of Waikaretu

Malcolm Mulholland is the chair of Patient Voice Aotearoa, a patient advocacy group. He is taking his patient voice advocacy campaign to the people.

For those who were unable to attend the Patient Voice Roadshow tonight I got permission off Malcolm Mulholland to record and publish the presentations of him, two nurses and the mayor. I stopped recording at Q & A. ======

Malcolm Mulholland is the chair of Patient Voice Aotearoa, a patient advocacy group. He is . . . → Read More: Malcolm Mulholland is the chair of Patient Voice Aotearoa, a patient advocacy group. He is taking his patient voice advocacy campaign to the people.