Under no circumstances whatsoever should the Waikato tribe – or any tribe – hold to ransom a third of the country's population, Infrastructure Minister Shane Jones told a select committee on Thursday.

A possible $30 million deal over land at Ihumatao after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern became involved in the dispute shows that protests over-ride negotiated agreements, Hobson’s Pledge spokesperson Casey Costello said today.

Electoral race-baiting clicked up a gear yesterday when Maori Party co-leader John Tamihere smeared “Pakeha” as "asymptomatic racists".

Unless you were living under a stone, you will know that towards the end of May a black American by the name of George Floyd was killed when a white police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, while three other police officers looked on.  And you will also know that this event has triggered huge protests against racism, not only in the US but throughout the world.

How exactly would the removal of 12 district health boards and the creation of a Maori health authority improved Maori health outcomes, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash asked today.

The cartoon above, courtesy of Garrick Tremain, shows the absurdity of the Maori Party’s attempt to win support, that is by having councils investigate and remove colonial statues.

Protests in New Zealand last weekend at the killing in the United States of a black man by police show “a rising tide of resentment, principally from young Maori conditioned into believing they are victims of white supremacy”.

A former senior MP once commented that in his view a one-law-for-all type political party could draw enough voter support to get it over the five percent threshold into Parliament. We would be keen to know where the new National Party leader, Todd Muller, stands on Hobson’s Pledge issues:

A Budget allocation of almost $1 billion to assist exclusively those with a Maori ancestor who have been affected by Covid-19 is an absurdity that few dare to question, Hobson’s Pledge spokesman Don Brash said on May 15, 2020.

Have the medical schools gone too far by favouring Maori and Polynesian applicants with average grades over others with exceptional grades?