The Auckland Council unwittingly did Canadian activists Lauren Southern and Stefan Molyneux a favour by withdrawing permission for them to speak at the council-owned Bruce Mason Centre.

The Auckland Council is seeking feedback on a 10-year budget and Auckland Plan 2050 and tucked in there is a whole series of questions on Maori identity and wellbeing.

Why are the Auckland Council, Napier City Council, and Palmerston North City Council currently considering Maori wards? This is because they are required to do so by legislation, most especially Section 19 Z of the Local Electoral Act 2001, which allows all councils the option of establishing Maori constituencies or wards by resolution of council. If councils decide to establish Maori wards, the decision can be challenged by a poll of all voters.

An advertisement featuring Prime Minister Bill English waving the white flag of surrender with text attacking the National Party on a single standard of citizenship appeared in the Sunday Star Times today.