The Mirage of Chris Luxon's Pre-Election Promises

The New Zealand National Party has long mastered the art of crafting messaging that resonates with a large number of desperate, often white, middle-class voters. From their 2023 campaign mantra of “getting our country back on track” to promises of economic revival, safer streets, and better education, their rhetoric paints a picture of a brighter, more prosperous Aotearoa.

But when you peel back the glossy veneer, the gap between their optimistic pledges and real-world outcomes reveals a troubling pattern of inconsistencies that demands scrutiny. This isn’t just political spin...it’s a calculated disconnect that risks eroding public trust in our political system, which is something that will only benefit authoritarian right-wing political party's who wish for a more divided New Zealand.

Take the Prime Minister Chris Luxon's flagship economic promise to rebuild the economy so that it is “working for all New Zealanders.” In 2023, National campaigned hard on taming inflation, cutting wasteful spending, and delivering tax relief to ease the cost-of-living crisis. Social media posts from the party, like one in April 2023, criticized Labour’s “reckless spending” as the root of economic woes, promising disciplined fiscal management and more spending money in everyone's back pockets.
 

Fast forward to 2025, and the picture isn’t so rosy. Inflation remains stubbornly high, with core rates hovering around 4%, squeezing households despite global downward trends. Tax cuts, heralded as a lifeline, have disproportionately benefited higher earners, leaving low and middle-income families grappling with rising costs for basics like rent and groceries. The Reserve Bank’s aggressive rate hikes at the beginning of Luxon's governorship, which National implicitly endorsed while blaming the previous Labour-led government's over-spending, have hammered small businesses and first-home buyers. Business closures and mortgage arrears are at an all time high, thanks to the National Party's economic mismanagement.

More concerned with theatrics in order to keep people distracted from their numerous policy failures, the National Party has all but forgotten about the inclusive prosperity that they promised. It simply hasn't materialized and more people are now struggling, because the National Party hasn't delivered on anything.

On crime, National’s optimism was equally bold. Their pledge to “crack down on crime and ensure safer communities” suggested a zero-tolerance approach, with more police and tougher sentencing. Yet, recent data paints a different story. While police numbers have barely shifted, with just 17 extra police delivered compared to the 500 promised, violent crime rates in urban centers like Auckland and Christchurch haven’t budged significantly since 2023. Youth offending, a favorite National talking point, continues to spike, with ram raids and gang-related incidents dominating headlines.

Their much-touted by the mainstream media “social investment” model, meant to address root causes, feels more like a buzzword than a funded reality. If anything, communities feel less safe because of the National Party's austerity increasing the decline of New Zealand's institutions and as a consequence society as well.

Education policy offers another stark contrast. National’s 2023 pledge to “teach the basics brilliantly” and ban cell phones in schools was sold as a return to academic rigor. But the reality? Curriculum changes have been sluggish, with teachers reporting inadequate resources to implement new standards. Real education spending, adjusted for inflation, remains flat, echoing National’s historical trend of prioritizing efficiency over investment. Meanwhile, truancy rates are climbing, and PISA scores show no meaningful uptick. The optimistic vision of thriving classrooms feels like a distant dream when schools are still begging for basic support.

These inconsistencies aren’t just policy hiccups...they reflect a deeper issue. National’s messaging leans heavily on aspirational propaganda, banking on voter hope to gloss over their well-documented delivery gaps. The 2023 Coalition of Chaos with ACT and NZ First, billed as a unified front for change, has instead produced fractious debates over priorities, which combined with widespread budget cuts is diluting the National Party's ability to deliver. Climate policy, barely mentioned in their rhetoric, remains a glaring blind spot, with emissions targets slipping as global pressure mounts. But what else would you expect from a climate change denying political party that says one thing and does another.

The National Party’s promises consistently outpace outcomes, which breeds cynicism. New Zealanders deserve more than feel-good slogans; they need results. Until National bridges that gap, their messaging will remain a polished mirage, fading under the harsh light of reality.

David Seymour - Arsehole of the Week

Strap yourselves in, folks, it’s time for another round of Arsehole of the Week, and this week’s golden derrière trophy goes to—drumroll, please—David Seymour, the ACT Party’s resident genius who thought, “You know what we need? A shiny new Treaty Principles Bill to "fix" all that pesky Māori-Crown partnership nonsense that is stopping my masters from exploiting New Zealand”

Bravo, Dave. Truly a visionary. Nothing screams “unifier” like taking a 185-year-old foundational document and scribbling over it with a crayon. So, let’s dive into why Seymour’s latest masterstroke, which is less Mona Lisa and more finger painting by a toddler on a sugar high, has crowned him Arsehole of the Week once again.

Picture this: Seymour, in his infinite wisdom, decides Te Tiriti o Waitangi needs to be retrospectively rewritten, because he doesn't want structural Māori inequalities to be addressed. His big idea? Boil down decades of legal precedent, Waitangi Tribunal rulings, and, oh, actual Māori input into three "principles" that sound like they were cooked up during a late-night libertarian Reddit binge and have nothing to do with the existing Principles .

Partnership? Pfft. Tino rangatiratanga? What's that? Let’s just slap “everyone’s equal” on it and call it a day. Who needs consultation when you’ve got a dream and a wish to alienate the vast majority of Kiwis who want an equal and functioning society? The Waitangi Tribunal called it “the worst, most comprehensive breach of the Treaty/te Tiriti in modern times.” Harsh, sure, but they probably just forgot how much of a big man Seymour was while trying to torch Māori-Crown relationship, just to entrench a bit of racism and garner the votes of a few deluded white supremacists. Right, Dave?

Now, let’s talk numbers, because Seymour loves a good stat...unless it’s inconvenient. Like, say, the 300,000 public submissions on his bill, a record-smashing 90% of which told him to take his Treaty Principles Bill and kindly shove it where the sun doesn't shine. His response? “Spam!” Oh, honey, that’s not spam; that’s the sound of a nation collectively asking; why are you wasting our money on this? But does our hero of racism back down? Nah! Instead the Coalition of Chaos attempted to ignore our democratic norms by dismissing submissions. Was Seymour concerned? Of course not. He’s too busy tweeting about how unelected judges and “elites” have “hijacked” the Treaty. Because nothing says “man of the people” like dismissing overwhelming public feedback against his stupid bill as fake news.

Seymour's gross manipulation of Parliamentary procedures didn't end there. He was all set to drop his destructive legislative dog turd on November 18, 2024, just as the largest hīkoi in New Zealands history was rolling into Wellington to protest it. But, oopsie, he shuffled it forward two weeks, leaving the Tribunal scrambling and Māori leaders calling him “dishonourable.” Just parliamentary hijinks, he says. Like manipulating our democratic system for his own benefit was nothing to worry about.


The hīkoi itself? A glorious, united middle finger, by Māori, Pākehā, young and old alike, marching from Cape Reinga to Parliament to say, “No to your racist legislation, thanks.” Seymour’s arrogant take? They haven’t read the bill. Sure, Dave, because tens of thousands of people walked thousands of kilometres to protest your divisive bill just for the vibes.

Then there’s the coalition circus. Luxon, too busy “running the country” (read: dodging the fallout), and Winston Peters, off achieving nothing overseas, left Seymour to face the music alone at the second reading on April 10, 2025. The bill tanked, 112 to 11, with ACT as the only delusional racists still waving their sad little racist flag. Even your mates ditched you, Dave. But don’t worry, he’s already plotting a comeback. A referendum in 2026, maybe? Because when your bill gets ripped up and laughed out of Parliament, the logical move is to keep flogging that dead horse until it’s glue.

Seymour’s whole shtick is that the Treaty’s been “distorted” into giving Māori “special privileges.” Oh, please. The only distortion here is the fun-house mirror these goofs are using to try and rewrite history. Māori aren’t swimming in unearned perks...they’re fighting for rights promised in 1840 which have not been provided. But why let facts ruin a good dog-whistle? Seymour’s bill doesn’t just miss the mark; it’s playing a different sport entirely, one where “equality” means erasing Māori as Treaty partners and pretending colonialism never happened.

So, here’s to you, David Seymour, our Arsehole of the Week. You took a document meant to build bridges and tried to sell it for scrap. You ignored a record-breaking backlash, snubbed a historic hīkoi, and got dumped by your own coalition partners. The people spoke, Dave...through submissions, protests, and votes, and they said, “Hard pass on your racist attempt to rewrite our founding document.” Maybe take the hint, swap the soapbox for a mirror, and reflect on why “unity” doesn’t mean flattening everyone into your version of equal. Until then, enjoy another Arsehole of the Week Award to add to your collection, David. Everybody knows you truly deserve this one.

Unmasking the National Party’s Fascism

Kia ora, readers. It’s time to pull back the curtain on some uncomfortable truths about New Zealand’s political landscape. The National Party, often cloaked in the guise of "sensible centrism," has, at times, veered into territory that smells suspiciously like fascism.

Now, before you roll your eyes and mutter about hyperbole, let’s unpack this with a clear head, a sharp pen, and a few hard facts that cannot be ignored. We’re not here to sling mud for kicks; we’re here to dig into the dirt and see what’s buried.

Fascism, for those who need a quick refresher, isn’t just jackboots and salutes. It’s a political beast that thrives on nationalism, suppression of dissent, scapegoating minorities, and consolidating power for the elite.

Historian Umberto Eco’s 14-point framework for fascism is a handy guide—think cults of tradition, fear of difference, and an obsession with control. Here's how the National Party stacks up when we're talking about the clear and present danger of the indicators of fascism.


1. The Māori Scapegoat and Racial Division (2023 Election Campaign)

During the 2023 election, National’s campaign took a sharp turn into divisive territory. Christopher Luxon’s rhetoric, while carefully polished, leaned heavily on anti-Māori sentiment to score points. Remember his “bottom feeders” comment about the poor, many of whom are disproportionately Māori? Or the push to scrap dual-language road signs, not because they’re confusing (they’re not), but as a dog whistle to those who resent Māori cultural resurgence? This wasn’t just policy disagreement—it was a calculated move to stoke fear of “the other,” a classic fascist tactic. By framing Māori rights as a threat to “Kiwi unity,” National tapped into a playbook that thrives on division, not debate. Their coalition partners, ACT, took it further, openly flirting with white supremacist talking points.

2. Suppressing Dissent: The COVID-19 Response and Beyond

Let’s rewind to 2020-2021, when National was in opposition. Their response to the government’s COVID-19 measures was less about constructive criticism and more about fanning the flames of unrest. Judith Collins and co. gave tacit nods to anti-vax and anti-lockdown protests, which, let’s be honest, weren’t just about “freedom.” These movements, as we saw in Auckland and Wellington, often carried fascist undertones and calls for “purifying” society, and a rejection of scientific consensus. National didn’t outright endorse the tinfoil hat brigade, but they didn’t condemn them either. Instead, they played both sides, amplifying distrust in institutions to weaken Labour’s grip. Eco’s checklist ticks here: distrust in expertise and a fetish for “action over reflection.” Fast-forward to 2025, and National’s silence on rising far-right groups like Action Zealandia speaks volumes.

3. Economic Elitism and Control

Fascism loves a hierarchy, and National’s economic policies often read like a love letter to the 1%. Take their 2023 tax cuts...sold as relief for “hardworking Kiwis” but skewed heavily toward high earners. Meanwhile, funding for social services like healthcare have been put in a choke-hold, leaving the vulnerable to fend for themselves. This isn’t just bad budgeting; it’s a deliberate choice to prioritize wealth over welfare, consolidating power among the elite. Pair that with their push for privatization (think asset sales under Key’s reign, 2008-2016), and you’ve got a system that rewards loyalty to the state’s chosen few while dismissing the rest as “lesser.” Sound familiar? It’s the kind of cronyism that fascist regimes thrive on, dressed up in neoliberal jargon.

4. Historical Echoes: The Legion’s Shadow

Now, let’s get historical for a sec. The National Party was formed in 1936, partly from the ashes of the New Zealand Legion, a radical conservative group that flirted with fascist ideas during the Great Depression. The Legion wasn’t full-blown Mussolini fanboys, but their nationalism, anti-socialist fervor, and calls for “self-sacrifice” had a whiff of authoritarianism. National absorbed some of these elements, including ex-Legionnaires like S.G. Holland, who became leader. While National today isn’t a direct descendant of blackshirts, this origin story shows a willingness to cozy up to far-right fringes when it suits. As conditions worsen—say, economic strife or cultural tension—those roots could sprout again.

5. The Big Data Disturbance (2024-2025)

Here’s a fresh one. National’s coalition government has doubled down on “social investment” models, using AI and big data to decide who gets welfare and who doesn’t. Sounds efficient, right? Except it’s a slippery slope to state overreach. The Ministry of Social Development’s plan to trawl social media to “assess” beneficiaries reeks of a surveillance state...another fascist hallmark. Combine that with moves to loosen oversight on Oranga Tamariki’s child uplifts, disproportionately affecting Māori families, and you’ve got a recipe for systemic control dressed as reform. This isn’t about helping people; it’s about punishing those who don’t fit the “ideal” mold.

Let’s be clear: National isn’t goose-stepping into a dictatorship. But fascism isn’t always blatantly obvious...it creeps in through dog whistles, policy nudges, and strategic silences. Luxon’s National Party has shown it’s happy to play with fire, whether it’s racial division, economic elitism, or tech-driven control. They’re not Action Zealandia, but they don’t need to be. By normalizing far-right talking points and ignoring the warning signs, they’re laying kindling for a system that is much more ugly than what most Kiwis voted for.

Racism won the 2023 election

If you have been paying attention to New Zealand's 2023 election campaign, you would have noticed a distinct anti-Maori and anti-poor sentiment coming through from right-wing political parties, who have subsequently won in a landslide.

Some of this campaigning was clearly designed to get attention in an "Iwi versus Kiwi" sort of way. However, much of it is actually what the right-wing believes. For instance, many of those who support NACT want to abolish dual language road signs, not because they have difficulty reading them, but because they want to ethnically cleanse away any sign of a successful multicultural society.

Despite their obviously elitist strategy of making the wealthy richer at the expense of the poor, soon-to-be Prime Minister Christopher Luxon continues to claim that he will govern for all New Zealanders.

But you only need to recall some of Luxon's statements during the campaign, such as describing poor people as "bottom feeders," to realize that the National Party will divide New Zealand along class lines and cause many in poorer areas to again experience the difficulties of living in a third-world country.

Unfortunately, in politics, words are very cheap, and it hasn't taken long for the soon-to-be Prime Minister to flip-flop on his assurances (presumably to guarantee a coalition deal is struck with ACT Party leader David Seymour) concerning a worthless and expensive referendum on the country's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi.

On Morning Report Luxon is no longer ruling out a referendum on the Treaty. That didn't take long to backtrack on pre-election promises.

— Ms WonderOutLoud (@MsWonderOutLoud) October 15, 2023

You might assume from this result that National's blueprint to deprive impoverished mainly Māori communities of even the basic essentials, such as free school lunches in lower socio-economic areas, did not matter to the electorate. But in reality, most voters simply were not properly informed about the implications of putting a far-right government in charge.

Instead, the right wing ran a fear-based campaign using incorrect information via a biased mainstream media that was designed to keep Christopher Luxon in the spotlight. Their predominantly elderly white target audience, who are shielded away in the safety of their gated communities from any ramifications of the class warfare they support, lapped up the right-wings propaganda like never before.

This result is a win for racism and the power of disinformation as much as it is a win for the National and ACT Party.

Will racism win the election?

You may have noticed that since becoming leader of the National Party, Christopher Luxon's favorite way to gain attention is through a bit of Maori-bashing. Some might claim that he should be afforded some leniency because he's a novice politician. However Luxon and the right wing in general have been particularly contrived in the way they use identity politics to remain in the media spotlight.

From ruling out working with Te Pāti Māori, whom Luxon labels "radicals", to promising to remove Māori language road signs and replace dual language Ministry logos, Luxon has recently been emboldening racists like never before on the campaign trail. He has even promised to scrap the Māori Health Authority, change sentencing laws, and repeal co-governance legislation (which would disproportionately and negatively affect Māori people), in what has been a relentlessly racist campaign similar to Don Brash's infamous campaign in 2004, which subsequently resulted in the National Party losing the election.

Yesterday, Maori News reported:

'What do we do about that radical organisation, the Waitangi Tribunal?': Luxon responds to Māori-related questions at public meeting 

But most of the questions he received afterwards were expressed as complaints about other issues, especially race relations and the role of Māori in society, the NZ Herald says. 

“Where do you stand on the fact that the Māori language is given priority?” asked a woman called Rita, who said she had emigrated from Britain 20 years ago. The audience applauded. 

Luxon made it clear his party stood for “one person, one vote”. It would “scrap the Māori Health Authority” and say “no to co-governance and separate systems”.

The problem for Luxon is that most Kiwis are not racist, so he has to tread a very fine line between the extreme sentiments expressed by white supremacists and their political party of choice, the ACT party, and those who quietly accept racism and will support National for other things such as their fiscal policies, which are largely uncosted and few and far between. This has resulted in Luxon often stepping over the line, whereby either Chris Bishop or Nicola Willis have had to try and make excuses for or roll back Luxon's racist statements.

Of course, the National Party's racist campaigning only works if their media propagandists are also able to promote the idea that New Zealand is a completely divided country. To a degree, they have been successful in making older, predominantly white New Zealanders more fearful that their privilege will end if the lives of impoverished people improve, which, in reality, is simply not the case. Collectively, everyone is poorer if a sector of the population is impoverished due to regressive government policy based on race, particularly when the target group has historically been marginalised by similar socially destructive legislation that has yet to be properly rectified.

However, the main problem with Luxon's racist campaigning isn't so much that he's promoting disunity; it's more that the National Party and mainstream media are causing real-world problems for a minority group while trying to gain support from the majority. In essence, this election isn't just about who has the best policies; it's more about how racist New Zealand is and how divided we wish to be in the future?

Posie Parker - Arsehole of the Week

Nobody likes a fascist, except other fascist’s of course. Thankfully they were completely outnumbered in Auckland last Saturday when a supposed advocate for women’s rights, Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull aka Posie Parker, tried to give a public speech about how transgender people are worthy of persecution.

You can understand why Parker and her followers were met with fierce resistance. She was after all promoting hatred similar to Nazi propaganda against minority groups, a form of dangerous disinformation that some deluded politicians believe is her right to express, presumably because they share similar bigoted views.

Today, RNZ reported

'Worst place' - Posie Parker leaves NZ after failed events

Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, shared a photo on social media showing her being escorted by police through Auckland Airport.

She left her rally at Albert Park in Auckland yesterday without speaking after being overwhelmed by thousands of heckling counter-protesters and pelted with tomato juice.

…

Parker posted to Twitter and said she was leaving 'the worst place for women she has ever visited'.

Clearly the British anti-trans activist wasn’t closed down because she’s a woman. Her speech was halted by people power because she’s promoting hatred towards an at risk group who’re tired of suffering the type of abuse and stigmatisation that Parker and her fanatics are promoting.

Posie Parker knows this, but instead of letting that understanding govern her actions, she attempted to manipulate the narrative again by playing the victim card.

A local group supporting her visit, Speak Up For Women NZ, had already announced the scheduled rally today in Wellington had been cancelled due to security concerns.

Auckland Pride rejected the idea the activist had abandoned her Wellington plans due to threats of violence.

During a series of Tweets, she said a mob "had assaulted women standing up for their rights".

In reality Parker had some Watties Tomato Sauce poured on her head, an instance that will likely be viewed by Police as unworthy of an arrest. Another anti-transgender activist fell over while trying to push her way through a crowd of counter-protesters. She was lucky to not get arrested by police herself.

Most people will realise that Parker's claims are entirelly ludicrous, being that the main incident of violence was against Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, who got knocked over on a pedestrian crossing by a Destiny Church motorcyclist. He stupidly failed to stop, which is a crime punishable by up to three months in jail.

Last Sunday, RNZ reported:

Marama Davidson hit by motorcyclist after Posie Parker protest

Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson was knocked to the ground by a motorcyclist who appeared to fail to stop at a pedestrian crossing after today's counter-protest against British anti-transgender activist Posie Parker.

In images published by other media, Davidson was seen waving a 'Trans Solidarity' sign just before she was struck.

So, tell me again who was being violent?

Marama Davidson didn’t let that injurious incident stop her from giving a speech to the overall peaceful protesters, unlike the coward Posie Parker who obviously cannot handle the jandal.  

The manipulative TERF has in fact received the response she intended to provoke. Her deluded followers are now more likely to donate because they've had their defunct belief systems entrenched. You could tell this by the look of glee on Parker's face as she was led away by Police, which clearly showed that her intentions were anything but wholesome.

What we don't want in New Zealand is more grifter's like Posie Parker promoting hatred towards minority groups to illicit donations. Instead we, and our politicians, should be fostering an inclusive society that helps everybody reach their full potential irrespective of the gender or sexual orientation people are born with.