Welcome to 2026, and we’re back... even if Parliament and the school system aren’t. This is the first Editor in Chief of an election year, and Duncan isn’t easing into it quietly.

We dig into the long summer shutdown for politicians and teachers and ask whether it’s completely out of step with how the rest of New Zealand lives and works. While families, businesses and tradies are already back at it, those at the top continue to lecture the country about productivity, sacrifice and working harder. Duncan calls out what he sees as hypocrisy, double standards and leadership that clocks off when the country can’t afford it.

We also read a powerful letter from a newly elected local councillor warning about iwi influence at council level and what she believes is happening quietly behind closed doors.

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