Te Pāti Māori, once the living symbol of kaupapa Māori politics and tino rangatiratanga, now faces accusations of centralisation and disconnection from its grassroots. With Toitū Te Tiriti severing ties, the party must choose between humility and pride, accountability and control. This moment matters not just for Māori but for the future of democracy in Aotearoa.

Dame Jane Goodall reshaped science, conservation, and the way we see ourselves in nature. From redefining humanity with her discovery of tool-using chimpanzees to inspiring generations with her message of hope, she showed us that small actions matter. Her passing leaves the world quieter, but her light endures - in forests, in classrooms, and in every heart moved to care more deeply for our planet.

This week in New Zealand business - Fonterra delivers a record dividend, consumer confidence edges higher, golden visas return, and policy changes on energy and employment loom. We explore what these shifts mean for business owners, and how to prepare for opportunities and risks in a volatile landscape.

Across New Zealand, positive stories are unfolding - from Waikato’s new community developments to Marlborough’s award-winning aquaculture and innovative Kiwi companies reducing waste. Communities are revitalising towns, protecting our environment and building a stronger, more sustainable future. These wins remind us that Aotearoa’s true strength lies in resilience, collaboration and creativity.

Carl Bates, National’s Whanganui MP, is under inquiry for failing to declare around 25 properties. In Political Showcase Aotearoa, we ask: is this an oversight or simply proof that New Zealand’s politics and economy are glued to property speculation?

For years, Mike Hosking styled himself as New Zealand’s conscience — a pulpit of endless “reckons” that too many mistook for journalism. But his cathedral of hot takes is shedding worshippers, with Mai FM overtaking him in Auckland’s breakfast ratings. Meanwhile, RNZ National is proving that facts still matter, growing its national audience in defiance of opinion-driven radio. Could this be the moment the cult of reckons finally collapses?

New Zealand’s latest headlines deliver a confusing mix of economic downturns, migration optimism, regulatory reform, and a new Reserve Bank Governor. For SME owners, the challenge is turning signals into strategy. This article highlights practical takeaways: prepare for slower local demand, monitor interest rate changes, position early for migration-driven opportunities, and leverage export strength.

When Simeon Brown mistook nurses’ silent protest for a “warm welcome,” it became a perfect symbol of political delusion. With hospitals short 587 nurses per shift and patients left in corridors, the government’s denial is not just out of touch - it’s dangerous.

Amid tough headlines, hope is alive in Aotearoa. From Taranaki’s Scale Up Grants to South Auckland’s flourishing gardens, Kiwi SMEs, communities and innovators are proving resilience, creativity and kindness are still driving us forward.

New Zealand is being urged to build new trade blocs – but behind the jargon lie practical implications for SME owners. Lower tariffs, tighter compliance, and fiercer global competition are all on the table. Drawing on Amanda Gillies’ Newsroom article, this piece breaks down what’s happening, why it matters, and how SMEs can prepare with smart, practical steps.

The assassination of Charlie Kirk is a grim marker of America’s civic collapse - where disagreement has become enmity and empathy is dismissed as weakness. New Zealand must take heed. Our strength lies in diversity, civility, and dialogue, but cracks are already forming. This article explores why defending respectful discourse is the only way to protect our democracy and preserve our shared belonging.

New Zealand’s government claims it can’t afford housing, healthcare, or food security - yet billions flow freely into prisons and policing. This article exposes the staggering contradiction of starving social services while building cages, and why it’s a moral and fiscal disaster.

Amid rising costs and global uncertainty, Aotearoa is proving that resilience and ingenuity run deep. This week we spotlight solar power leadership in Hawke’s Bay, South Auckland’s flourishing community gardens, disaster resilience in Newlands, Gen Z’s surprising financial discipline, and A2 Milk’s record profits with local reinvestment. Together, these stories show New Zealanders creating practical, hopeful solutions.

This week’s NZ Business News Weekly Digest highlights what really matters for SME owners. From supermarket reforms breaking open new opportunities, to the impact of U.S. tariffs, shifts in business confidence, the return on digital upgrades, pay equity compliance, and Invest New Zealand’s new focus on growth industries – every headline carries an SME angle. Discover what these changes mean for your business and how to act now.

The Epstein “birthday book” is more than a grotesque tribute - it’s an x-ray of how power excuses predation. Page after page, influential men, some proudly “fathers of daughters”, winked, joked and sketched their way around the harm in front of them. This isn’t fatherhood - it’s tribal protection of “mine” while other people’s daughters become currency. The psychology is familiar - compartmentalise, turn abuse into banter and trust status to shield you from consequence. Real leadership rejects that bargain. It refuses the roguish-comedy disguise, names the behaviour and chooses accountability over complicity. If you care about culture, ethics and the men we’re raising in Aotearoa, start here - examine the stories we tell about power and who pays the price when we look away.

New Zealand’s government claims it can’t afford housing, healthcare, or food security - yet billions flow freely into prisons and policing. This article exposes the staggering contradiction of starving social services while building cages, and why it’s a moral and fiscal disaster.

Finland consistently ranks as the happiest country in the world - not because of wealth or climate, but because of trust, education and balance. New Zealand faces rising inequality, housing insecurity and mental health struggles, but Finland’s story shows we can make different choices. Could Aotearoa build its own model of happiness - one that blends equity, te ao Māori, resilience and cultural richness?

The repeal of wellbeing provisions from New Zealand’s Public Finance Act marks a chilling shift - people no longer count. Nicola Willis has buried social outcomes beneath fiscal spreadsheets, dismissing poverty, mental health and housing as “distractions.” This article unpacks why ignoring wellbeing is not just negligent - it’s misanthropic.

New Zealand’s local body elections have become a theatre of apathy, where turnout collapses and candidates from the “Universally Inoffensive Party” promise little while delivering less. Behind the beige slogans, communities face neglected infrastructure, rising rates, and councils repurposed as property speculators’ offices. This article asks the only question that matters: who actually gives a damn about the street we live on?

New Zealand spends billions on infrastructure but struggles to deliver value, leaving SMEs to carry the hidden costs. From traffic congestion to burst pipes, business owners pay twice - through taxes and lost productivity. This article explores practical steps SMEs can take to build resilience, budget for delays, and stand out as reliable operators in a landscape of political gridlock.