Another year draws to a close. I'd like to thank all my readers and listeners across New Zealand who have enjoyed all the commentary I've been able to produce for Good Oil News, RCR, Left Foot Media, and my own Right Minds blog. This is the first year I've done weekly interviews and podcasts in addition to writing columns. I've enjoyed the new medium and am especially grateful for the expanding new media scene in New Zealand. The power of the legacy media is waning, but not yet broken. You, dear reader, are a great help in this and those of you who part with your hard-earned cash for these projects are indispensable. It may not feel like you are doing much, but many hands make for light work.
This year marks the first year of a government with a three-way centre-right coalition. It's been a busy year for me, so busy that I have not yet reviewed the changes to coalition commitments in my tracker. We'll kick off 2025 with the state of play after I have a proper holiday. I am positive about the way things are going, but also continuously critical. The changes are simply too timid, the pace is too slow. New Zealand's elites lack imagination.
What a year it has been. There has been a big vibe shift across the Western world, and the Anglosphere in particular. Elon Musk's quest to reach the stars has brought him back down to earth and into the centre of imperial governance. We all care deeply about US politics because it affects every corner of their global empire. The emperor himself, Donald J Trump, is set to retake his rightful place on the throne after the people demanded his return.
Freedom of expression is making a comeback and we see what a boon that is to the right. Simply giving us a level playing field in the digital town square, X, has resulted in massive gains against wokeness and our enemies are fleeing like rats exposed to sunlight.
The way that immigration is viewed has changed drastically in Europe and is changing here too. What is a nation? What is a New Zealander? If we don't have a people, we don't have a nation. If the country is an airport lounge with 5% of the country coming and going every year or two then how can we ever build anything meaningful? Rapidly declining GDP per capita and social cohesion are proof of that. The woke mind virus continues to infest institutions at all levels. Diversity is our doom. It will take more courage to address than our current government has, but we have momentum now.
In my own little corner, finally clocking in a win against the NZ Police for their illegal raid five years ago is a strong way to end the year. There is also more to do there at the political level, but we'll save that for next year.
Once again, thank you. From my family to yours. It is an honour and a privilege to write for you.