Well, it’s Sunday, so you know what that means. Time for the latest magazine cover, a few fresh pieces I’ve written, and a round-up of the wild, weird, and worrying happenings across New Zealand.
Wāhine of the Week: Ruth Tipu
Ruth Tipu — what a legend.
This week, she took a stand at the Suter Gallery in Nelson where a flag installation labelled "Please walk on me" was on display as an art piece. Ruth wasn’t having it. She respectfully removed the flag and hung it up properly. That’s mana in action. Tumeke, Ruth.
Ruth Tipu rescues national flag in protest of disrespectful art
Ruth Tipu took action after discovering the New Zealand national flag laid on the ground with the words "Please walk on me" written across it at a Nelson Art Gallery. In a Facebook post, Tipu expressed outrage, calling the act deeply disrespectful- especially to those, like her grandfather who served in the Māori Battalion, who fought under the flag.
Shoplifting Under $500? Green Light from the Police
I wrote about the recent uproar over a leaked memo sent to frontline officers, essentially instructing them not to prosecute shoplifting under $500.
National’s Police Minister Mark Mitchell quickly tried to do damage control, insisting that these cases will still be investigated. But let’s be honest - public trust is already shaky. Who do we believe?
Over on X, I quipped that this new policy won’t impact Golriz Ghahraman, since most of the items at Scotties Boutique cost more than $500 anyway.
Thieves welcome
Criminals across the country have just been handed a major win, and law-abiding citizens and retailers are left to fend for themselves. Police have officially confirmed that officers have been instructed not to investigate shoplifting cases involving goods worth less than $500, which seems like an open invitation to petty crime.
Yo Mama Politics
Eru Kapa-Kingi dropped a cringe-worthy video calling out David Seymour for a scrap for “disrespecting his mother.” While he’s quick to defend his own, there’s radio silence from him on the violence that’s costing the lives of tamariki across New Zealand.
Let’s be honest. The guy’s a professional grifter. That moko? Career branding. Without it, he’d look too Pākehā, and he knows it. It’s a costume to cover insecurity, not conviction.
Eru Kapa-King calls out David Seymour
Meet Eru - the son of racist Māori MP Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and poster boy for the "Haka vs ACT" movement, handpicked by none other than John Tamihere and the Māori Party to front the protest against ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill.
Te Partly Māori Sun Tan Lotion
Massive props to @bytheblackstump on X for this week’s image, a sharp reference to the satirical article that got Winston Peters kicked out of Parliament last week.
Another week down, another political circus spinning in full force. Let’s see what fresh chaos NZ’s Parliament has in store for us next. Buckle up.
That magazine cover would have the mag sold out in half a day. Brilliant.
Another brilliant Sunday magazine cover! Great work😀