Politics

NZ MAGA'fuckation | February 2026 Edition

A month of MAGA'fuckation importation by the New Zealand Government

Robin Capper

Robin Capper

— 13 min read
NZ MAGA'fuckation | February 2026 Edition
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MAGA'fuckation: Usage suggests the term is meant to describe the perceived adoption or importation of MAGA-style politics or rhetoric into other countries, in this case New Zealand, with a strongly negative connotation. (Copilot)
$150,000 road cone hotline an ‘absurd’ waste of public money - Labour
A WorkSafe review found excessive use of cones at just 6 percent of the 250 sites inspected.
RNZRNZ News
Live animal export industry remain hopeful practice will resume after ban
ACT campaigned during the last election to reinstate live exports by sea and Cabinet has been working on the legislation ever since.
RNZSally Murphy

ACT campaign to increase animal cruelty

NZ First-National clash over India FTA a ‘mature disagreement’, Christopher Luxon says
National and New Zealand First have been clashing over the free trade agreement.
RNZMorningreport

National's half arsed deal vs NZF immigrant racism

Christopher Luxon, Winston Peters ‘basically calling each other liars’, Chris Hipkins says
The Labour leader said it was a sign the leaders did not have a healthy relationship.
RNZMorningreport

A case where both Mr Luxon & Mr Peters are right?

Opposition parties slam ‘secret’ critical minerals talks
New Zealand is in talks about the supply of rare minerals, as Donald Trump seeks to reduce reliance on China.
RNZAnneke Smith

Luxon said it wasn't discussed in cabinet, Seymour said it was...

US, New Zealand commit to exploring opportunities, cooperation on critical minerals
Both governments released a joint statement confirming the possibility of expanding cooperation on critical minerals.
RNZLillian Hanly

Oh, look at that, they were talking...

Auckland mayor Wayne Brown mocks government’s proposal to cap rates
Wayne Brown put on a cap saying ‘RATES’ in a self-described move to mock the proposal.
RNZRNZ News

The government that talked about local governance is imposing financial policy

Labour lambasts coalition over job figures
Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said the figures showed the three party coalition was a “government of despair”.
RNZRNZ News

Economy back on track yet, or derailed?

Prime Minister rejects opposition claim that government is anti-Treaty
Labour leader Chris Hipkins says the government is anti-Treaty and therefore anti-Māori, but the Prime Minister argues iwi leaders have worked to find “common ground”.
RNZLillian Hanly

Their actions have proved that rejection has no validity

As it happened: Politicians including Hipkins, Seymour, Peters speak following welcome to Treaty Grounds
The PM faced heckling during his speech at Waitangi today amid tensions over the bill.
RNZRNZ News

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has repeatedly denied there could be a repeat of the Treaty Principles Bill. "We've been there and we killed it, so we're done," he said." He neglected to mention there was absolutely no need to go there at all and meanwhile: ACT leader David Seymour has promised to campaign on the Treaty Principles Bill again

Is NZ defence and intelligence policy aligning with AUKUS in all but name?
While strengthening its security partnerships and expanding military capabilities, the government has so far said it is only assessing joining Pillar II of the AUKUS security pact.
RNZRNZ News

Given current US policy, is this wise?

Watch: Taranaki’s Liquefied Natural Gas import facility expected to save New Zealanders millions
Energy Minister Simon Watts on Monday announced a contract was expected to be signed by the middle of the year.
RNZRussell Palmer
The EV slowdown: How government decisions changed the road ahead
We look at what went wrong and what needs to happen after the great e-slowdown.
RNZAmanda Gillies
New liquefied natural gas terminal: ‘Vital’ or ‘bonkers’?
The government wants taxpayers to fund a natural gas import terminal, but says lower power prices will come as a result.
RNZGiles Dexter

Bonkers

Retail crime advisory group disbands four months early
Labour’s police spokesperson Ginny Andersen said the group had been a “disaster” for the government, and it was cutting its losses.
RNZJimmy Ellingham, Louisa Cleave, Giles Dexter
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith defends pulling the plug on retail crime group
It comes as the government confirmed the group will wind down four months early.
RNZRNZ News
New Zealand’s corruption-free reputation takes hit for fourth-year in a row - survey
Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perception Index had New Zealand fall two points.
RNZRNZ News
Government wants to bypass fast-track process for proposed liquefied natural gas terminal
A proposed LNG terminal will bypass even the fast-track process in order to be built in time.
RNZKate Newton

Bypassing their already dodgy bypass

Nicola Willis urges Adrian Orr to front up in inquiry into economic responses to Covid-19
The government recently announced an independent review into the central bank’s actions during the pandemic, including official cash rate cuts, money printing and its interactions with government policy.
RNZRussell Palmer

I hope all his NDA's are waived for it

Coalition promises to snuff out feared ‘water tax’ for farmers
The government has promised to change a contentious clause in legislation the could leave the door open to a future water tax for farmers.
RNZAnneke Smith
‘Confusing’: Proposed health and safety law changes will not make workers safer, experts say
Experts warn proposed changes to health and safety laws won’t shift the dial on the country’s dire death and injury statistics.
RNZ, Ninetonoon
‘Nakedly political’: No rivals considered for Judith Collins’ new job
The outgoing minister was the only person considered for Law Commission president - with no recruitment process and no other candidates.
RNZCraig Mcculloch

Due process?

Opposition finds change to school lunch scheme’s name hard to swallow
A free school lunches programme rebrand has dropped the reo Māori name Ka Ora Ka Ako, a move David Seymour says is “delivering real value”.
RNZRussell Palmer

Shite by any other name...

Employment relations and speedy, lopsided debates
The government continues legislating apace, with frequent extra sittings. Among the priorities this week was a bill to “rebalance” employee-employer rights. The debate was lopsided.
RNZPhil Smith
Two-year ban on taking shellfish and seaweed from rockpools north of Auckland
The ban is for all of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula, and further north at Kawau Bay and ƌmaha Bay.
RNZRNZ News

The same government that allowed commercial fishing in Hauraki Gulf Marine 'Protection' areas

District court judge accused of yelling at Winston Peters faces cross-examination
District Court Judge Ema Aitken at the judicial conduct panel earlier this month.
RNZFinn Blackwell

Stephens KC asked Aitken if she recalled saying Peters' comments were lies or misinformation: "I've never been able to remember the precise words that I used - I've maintained that from the outset because I don't, but they would have been to that effect." Fair enough!

Unions accuse Peters of being ‘wilfully misleading’ over Employment Relations Amendment Bill
Both the PSA and Workers First want the New Zealand First leader investigated for breaching the cabinet manual.
RNZLillian Hanly

See above

Government considers Auckland Harbour Bridge toll to help pay for second crossing
The government continues to mull over its options as to what a new crossing would look like, such as a tunnel or second bridge.
RNZGiles Dexter

Talk of tolls, but no talk of alternative mode crossings

NZ is slowly slipping on the global corruption index. Is is time for an anti-corruption agency?
New Zealand’s score has been falling for a decade, even as its position near the top holds, Matevz Raskovic writes.
RNZMatevz (Matt) Raskovic*

Yes

Is Mount Victoria tunnel ‘all go’, or still under consideration?
The Transport Minister says holding off on a second Mount Victoria tunnel is something under consideration, but the Finance Minister insists the project is “all go”.
RNZGiles Dexter

The most insane transport project yet, and given what else they're proposing with RONS that is saying something.

Chris Hipkins accuses Winston Peters of ‘pure racism’ in Parliament
Hipkins has decried an “ugly side to NZ politics”, calling out “outright race-baiting” and “direct racism” being expressed in the debating chamber.
RNZCraig Mcculloch

He forgot to add 'and misinformation'

Government expected to make announcement on Auckland housing plan U-turn
The Housing Minister has had to grapple with a process he says is “legally complicated”.
RNZLillian Hanly

The pool owners of Epsom won

‘We’re not shagging spiders’: Minister on second Auckland harbour crossing
Chris Bishop went on a self-described “rant” during a Q&A session at the International Convention Centre, with some colourful turns of phrase.
RNZAnneke Smith

?

Promises to ban paywave surcharges ‘going nowhere’
The government said it would axe surcharges by May to “put money back into Kiwi’s pockets”.
RNZAnneke Smith

Good, the 'ban' would not have eliminated the charges, just the opportunity to opt out of them

Bill to make English an official language of NZ introduced to Parliament
The bill is being fiercely defended by Winston Peters.
RNZGiles Dexter

Winston never misses an opportunity to stir up racism

National to campaign on review of ‘controversial’ Hauraki Gulf commercial fishing rules
Legislation last year established 12 high protection areas - but allowed commercial operators exclusive access to two of them.
RNZRNZ News

Luxon's shite negotiations enabled them in the first place. He didn't need to concede anything to Act or NZ First. They had nowhere else to turn.

Pay equity backlash is ‘hyperbole’, Finance Minister says
Claims the government’s changes amount to an abuse of power are being dismissed by the Finance Minister.
RNZMorningreport, Anneke Smith

Tell that to those that lost pay equity

Government scraps its quarterly action plans
The government started producing quarterly plans in April 2024, but there has been no sign of one since October.
RNZRNZ News

Not wanting to report the back-tracking

MSD claw backs will ‘financially cripple’ state abuse survivors, advocate says
The coalition, with Labour’s support, is changing the law so the Ministry of Social Development can legally claw back payments once someone has been backpaid for an ACC claim.
RNZAnneke Smith

Lawyer and researcher Warren Forster said the coalition's approach to the law change, prompted by a signficant High Court decision, was problematic. "The law doesn't actually say you have to pay that out of someone's entitlement. If ACC wants to repay MSD, it can, but it shouldn't be at the expense of the person who's injured and has been stuck in that system, fighting."

What Trump’s America wants from NZ’s mines
Mining leaders have met in Washington to showcase what their nations could contribute as the US looks to counter China’s dominance.
RNZFox Meyer

Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick told Newsroom the New Zealand public had been told critical minerals were about preparing for a transition to green energy, but didn't think that was what the Americans had in mind. The coalition government announced its critical minerals list with a cleaner future at the forefront. "Now it seems as though, through backroom deals, they're going to be funnelling those resources into Donald Trump's militaristic expansion," Swarbrick said. University of Auckland emeritus professor Jane Kelsey drew national attention to the critical minerals deal last month, when she warned "secret" meetings with the American government could constitute a breach of the Crown's obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Move-on orders will push homeless people away from support, agency fears
Wellington’s Downtown Community Ministry says moving people rough sleeping out of CBD’s will hinder their access to health and community resources.
RNZLauren Crimp

But what about 'Chuck and Mary'?

Government deciding whether US should get access to New Zealanders’ biometric data
Officials are in talks with the US about a new travel deal.
RNZKeiller Macduff

Handing our ID to fascist arseholes

David Seymour renews call to sell government’s Air NZ shares after half-year loss
The airline has slumped to a significant half-year loss, renewing criticism from the Deputy Prime Minister.
RNZRNZ News

Seymour's MAGA'fuckation cry

Call for Ministers to stop ‘derogatory’ rhetoric against councils
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour was the most senior minister in the room.
RNZAnneke Smith

"There are comments that come fr"om Cabinet ministers, in fact from the prime minister himself, who say things like councils have got no social licence." Pita Tipene

A home for granny, a headache for the homeowner
The new rules cut a thin layer of red tape, but they’re still complex, full of restrictions and just as expensive as always.
RNZAlexia Russell

Experts say that the real rule change is simply that when things go wrong, the burden of responsibility will be on the homeowner, not the council.

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