Muriel Newman

Founder and Director of the New Zealand Centre for Political Research public policy think tank - and former MP.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

In our latest feature article on https://t.co/64KqsHTM49 we uncover the extent of the cultural capture of the public sector and we present our NZCPR Political Party Treaty Policy Summary showing how the next government could either reverse the trend or accelerate it dangerously.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

In our latest feature article on https://t.co/64KqsHTM49 we outline the battle over the Waitangi Tribunal, which some parties consider as such a threat to democracy that they are now calling for its abolition - while other parties want to give it supreme authority over the Crown.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

Our latest https://t.co/64KqsHTM49 feature article outlines the different dynamics operating in the lead up to Election 2026 and explains why the MMP voting system, designed to translate party votes into parliamentary representation, may see 900,000 National party votes wasted.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

Our latest feature article on https://t.co/64KqsHTM49 looks at how the election - fundamentally a choice between parties wanting to encourage success and those wanting to penalise it - is being overshadowed by the Maori Party’s attempt to use the reserved Maori seats to rort MMP.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

This week our https://t.co/64KqsHTM49 feature article investigates the so-called political neutralityof the Electoral Commission and asks whether it's acceptable that applicants for election jobs are being subjected to Te Tiriti indoctrination as a condition of their employment.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

This week on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo we urge the Coalition to pause their undemocratic and draconian local government reforms that disrespect the wishes of local communities, trampling on their rights to determine how their voices are represented around the decision-making table.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

Our latest feature article on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo examines the Coalition’s attempt to rein in local government's use of extremist climate projections that are now regarded as “implausible” by the UN - and we ask whether Minister Watts did enough with his letter to councils.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

Our latest feature article on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo reflects on the rise of parallel societies in Europe and asks whether steps should be taken in NZ to dismantle the parallel authority established by tribal groups that now threatens democracy and the sovereignty of Parliament.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

In our latest feature articles on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo we have outlined a "sleeper" issue that could well determine the outcome of the 2026 election, and we have also highlighted the importance of “People Power” in influencing Government Ministers and shaping public policy.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

Our latest feature article on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo investigates Budget 2026 and questions the Coalition’s economic management track record and Sir Roger Douglas outlines why deep structural reform to address the needs of our aging population is crucial for economic wellbeing.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

This week https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo outlines the impact on NZ of the groundbreaking news that the extreme climate scenario RCP8.5 - used in all climate policy - has been rejected as “implausible” and will no longer be used by the IPCC and Professor Roger Pielke explains the detail.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

Our latest feature article on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo examines the tribal takeover of Local Government - including the appointment of 10 unelected iwi representatives with full voting rights onto a Council Committee of just 6 elected Councillors - and outlines how to reverse it.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

This week’s feature article on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo investigates three difficulties shaping voter sentiment: a deepening cost‑of‑living crisis, a perception of political instability in the Coalition, and unresolved attacks on our constitutional integrity through co‑governance.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

Our latest feature article on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo digs deeper into the latest political polls to better understand why National is not doing better - and we outline some of the election strategies that are now being revealed by political parties as we head towards November 7.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

Our latest feature article on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo examines energy security in NZ and reveals how successive governments have embedded gross inaccuracies in our policy framework that have escalated prices throughout our economy leaving us extremely vulnerable to global shocks.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

In our latest feature article on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo, we expose how tikanga is being used by the judiciary to rewrite the law without any democratic mandate - weakening criminal accountability, and reshaping statutory tests - and we outline steps to restore the rule of law...

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

This week https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo investigates Wellington’s Moa Point crisis, raising concerns about media reporting and Council decision-making, with Simon Woolf explaining: “I voted against expanding cycleways & argued instead for prioritising sewerage & water infrastructure...

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

In this week’s https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo feature article we set out the case for abolishing the Maori seats — exactly as the 1986 Royal Commission recommended — because they are now significantly distorting the proportionality of Parliament and entrenching discrimination.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

This week on https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo we expose how the Treaty of Waitangi is being dangerously misrepresented to deliver tribal rule - and we ask whether ACT and NZF should oppose the Conservation Acts (Land Management) Amendment Bill unless all race-based provisions are removed.

[Muriel Newman @NZCPR]

Don’t forget submissions on the Bills to replace the RMA are due by 4.30 pm this Friday Feb 13 – full details can be found in our https://t.co/ERPFaa2keo analysis in which we raised serious concerns about the race-based influence the Coalition intends to embed into the new laws.