New Zealand First

Dr Isaac Featherston, the editor of the Wellington Independent, strongly attacked the New Zealand Company’s land policy in his newspaper on 24 March 1847. Colonel William Wakefield, the Company’s Principal Agent in New Zealand, interpreted this editorial as a thinly disguised accusation that he was a thief. He challenged Featherston to a duel that apparently took place at Te Aro…

Two new Acts—the Natural Environment Act and the Planning Act—will replace the Resource Management Act (RMA) by the end of 2025, with a bill introduced to Parliament in 2026 and passed before the next election. The government claims that the reforms will slash compliance and administrative costs by 45 per cent. Notably, the new Acts will drop the clause requiring adherence to…