Category: Press Releases

Saturday 29 November from 10:00am – 12:00pm
Location: Thames Market
700 Pollen Street, Grahamstown, Thames

15 March 2019: 51 lives lost, a nation traumatised, and Jacinda Ardern became the global poster-child for compassion. Instant gun bans, sweeping censorship powers, and an official narrative sealed shut.

COVID followed: the same voice that said “They are us, we are them” now declared itself the “one source of truth”. Lockdowns, mandates, riot police on Parliament lawn – dissent was crushed.

She resigned at the peak, was made a Dame, and feted by royalty. The fairy-tale seemed unbreakable.

Until today.

Three people were raided and charged for daring to question what really happened in Christchurch. After three years of lawfare, seized equipment, and legal bills soaring past six figures, the first of those cases has just collapsed in court – reduced to a $400 fine.

One down. Two to go – each still facing up to 14 years in prison.

Next courtroom showdown: 26 February 2026.

The state’s weapon – the “objectionable publications” law used to silence anyone challenging the Christchurch story – has misfired spectacularly.

The institutions Ardern built her legend on are imploding in 2025: police corruption scandals, sealed files, unanswered Royal Commission questions, and now a courtroom humiliation the legacy media refuses to report.

This is only the beginning.

Counterspin Media is still in the fight – and the official narrative is cracking.

Watch the victory that marks the turning point. The reckoning has started.

New Zealand’s frontline firefighters – the brave men and women who run toward danger while the rest of us run away – are being betrayed. Betrayed by a bloated, unaccountable organisation called Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) that prioritises glossy PR, executive salaries, and endless bureaucracy over the basic tools needed to save lives. While FENZ’s leadership paints a rosy picture of progress and investment, the reality on the ground is a scandalous nightmare of breakdowns, hazards, and neglect. This is not incompetence – this is criminal negligence that will cost lives if not exposed and dismantled immediately.

Former All Black Steve Devine, a 14-year veteran firefighter at Avondale Station, has had enough. He’s blown the whistle loud and clear, directly challenging politicians and FENZ brass who downplay the crisis. Devine has pointed to “multiple incidents where firefighters and the public had been put at risk by faulty fire trucks.” He accuses FENZ of misleading even Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour about the true scale of appliance failures, stating bluntly that “at least one truck breaks down every day.” In one chilling example, he described a Whangarei appliance that ‘broke down at a structure fire; they were lucky the firefighters were not inside the structure at the time.’ Another: “The siren stopped working on the way to a call. Then a spotlight in the cab caught on fire.”

Devine hasn’t minced words on the so-called “new” fleet either: “Many of those trucks were older trucks – upgraded or refurbished” – and he states they “got a single new truck approximately 8-years ago, but that has been a complete lemon”. FENZ claims 317 trucks replaced since 2017 and 78 more on order, but Devine and his colleagues know the truth – these are often refurbished relics passed off as upgrades, prone to the same catastrophic failures. Pretending old appliances with limited fitouts are “new vehicles” isn’t just a stretch; it’s a dangerous lie.

After spending hours with Steve Devine and three other frontline firefighters, the snapshot they provided was damning:

– Daily appliance breakdowns putting crews and the public in immediate danger.
– Lack of fit-for-purpose equipment, with trucks shopping from the bargain bin rather than battle-tested suppliers.
– Dilapidated stations riddled with black mould, asbestos, and other health hazards – Auckland City Station has been shut down multiple times due to asbestos contamination, exposing crews to carcinogens while FENZ drags its feet on remediation.
– No proper budget for mental health support, leaving firefighters to battle trauma alone.
– Understaffing so severe that responses are delayed or short-crewed.
– Faulty hoses, obsolete gas detectors, and a complete absence of accountability in procurement.

Where is WorkSafe New Zealand in all this? Silent. No outcry, no enforcement, while firefighters breathe in asbestos and mould. This isn’t oversight – it’s complicity.

FENZ has ballooned into a top-heavy bureaucracy since its 2017 rebranding from the old New Zealand Fire Service. The same players remain, shirking responsibility under a new logo. Hundreds of millions in levies flow in – nearly $800 million in 2024-25 – yet where does the money go? High wages for executives? Endless corporate restructuring? Dubious procurement deals influenced by lobbyists pushing preferred (and substandard) suppliers? Who are these procurement personnel? What happens in those closed-door “negotiations”? Who signs off on equipment that’s clearly not fit for purpose, and why are they never held accountable when systemic failures endanger lives?

The solution is staring FENZ in the face, but they refuse to see it because it threatens their empire. Frontline crews know exactly what they need. Give stations direct control of their budgets, in the hands of experienced station chiefs who live the reality every shift. Not out-of-touch bureaucrats who agree in private but lack the guts to fight for their people.

Firefighters who dare speak out – like Devine – are chastised, silenced, or sidelined. If this continues, the unacceptable loss of life is inevitable. Any death from equipment failure, delayed response, or health neglect rests squarely on FENZ leadership and the politicians who enable them.

FENZ’s spin machine claims they’re “on top of issues” and “investing in the fleet.” Bullshit. The dogged truth from the frontline is clear: New Zealand’s fire service is in a hell of a state.

Enough. Demand better. We need a full, independent forensic audit of FENZ by an external agency – follow the money, expose the waste, the lobbyists, the corruption at the highest levels. Track every dollar like a New Zealand version of DOGE: ruthless efficiency, zero tolerance for bloat. Probe top management. Remediate every hazardous station. Fund mental health properly. Equip our firefighters like warriors, not “also-rans.”

This is about lives – the publics and the heroes who protect us. No more excuses. No more rebrands hiding failure. Act now, or blood will be on FENZ’s hands. The frontline has spoken. It’s time the rest of us listened – and forced change.

NZ Banks Have Quietly Installed Mandatory Spyware Into Online Banking.

This is NOT a joke.
This is NOT speculation.
This is straight from their own websites.

New Zealand’s biggest banks — ANZ, BNZ, and Westpac — have now implemented mandatory behavioural and device-level surveillance as a REQUIREMENT for online and mobile banking.

Not optional.
Not for “improving security.”
Not “only if you agree.”

Mandatory.

Here’s what they now demand access to:

🔻 Your typing patterns
🔻 Your scrolling and swiping behaviour
🔻 Your mouse movements
🔻 Your device motion, tilt, and handling
🔻 Your connected devices (Bluetooth, USB, etc.)
🔻 Whether your phone is currently on a call
🔻 Your full device metadata
🔻 Your behavioural biometrics (unique to YOU)
🔻 BNZ even scans your INSTALLED APPS (on Android)
🔻 Sensor and peripheral data

Yep. NZ banks now decide how you must use your device to “qualify” for banking access.

And here’s the part that should terrify every Kiwi:

ANZ & BNZ both explicitly state you CANNOT use internet banking or their mobile apps unless you consent to all of this.

Meaning:
No consent?
No access to your own money.

This is NOT fraud prevention.
This is forced surveillance as a condition of modern banking.

💥 Direct Quotes (from their public pages):
ANZ:

“You won’t be able to use goMoney or Internet Banking without having this data collected.”https://www.anz.co.nz/banking-with-anz/banking-safely/fraud-protection/collect-information/

BNZ:

“We collect sensor and peripheral data, installed apps, and behavioural biometric information…”
“If you don’t provide this information, we may not be able to offer you services in our digital channels.”https://www.bnz.co.nz/about-us/online-security/how-we-protect-you/using-behaviour-to-recognise-its-you

This is the textbook definition of spyware — except now your bank requires it.

🧠 The implications:

Banks are building behavioural fingerprints of every customer

They can detect when you’re on a phone call

They know what devices you connect

BNZ knows what apps you install

They can track every gesture and movement you make inside the banking app

Data is shared with third-party “security partners” offshore

Once the permissions exist, nothing stops them from expanding usage later

This quietly lays the groundwork for CBDC and digital identity surveillance

We are not talking about “your bank tracks your transactions.”
We’re talking about your bank tracks YOU.

How you hold your device.
How you type.
How you move.
Who you’re connected to.
And what’s on your phone.

😡 And the worst part?

ASB, Kiwibank, TSB, Co-op, and the credit unions aren’t doing this yet…

…but NONE of them have publicly stated that they WON’T.

Three of the big banks have already moved.
The rest will follow unless this goes public and people push back.

🔥 This is the biggest banking privacy breach NZ has ever seen.

No public debate.
No media coverage.
No opt-out.
No consent.

Just:
“Give us full surveillance access to your device — or lose digital banking.”

I’m sounding the alarm now.

Share this.
Send it to everyone you know.
Post it in every group.
Make as much noise as possible.

This crosses a line that should NEVER have been crossed.

If you want the full breakdown (bank-by-bank list of who is spying and who isn’t), DM me or comment — I’ve got everything documented.

Watch a video of Deputy Leader, John Alcock, discussing Digital IDs and Central Bank Digital Currency.

Following the challenges of the last General Election, I joined others to rebuild NZ Loyal, a party supported by 35,000 voters. On Saturday 8th November, I was honored to be elected as NZ Loyal’s President, joining a talented board to lead the party into the next election.

Our focus is clear: policy-driven solutions to address New Zealand’s pressing issues. Wage earners are struggling, businesses are closing at alarming rates, and our young talent is leaving in droves. The purchasing power of our dollar is now just 10% of its 1971 value. NZ Loyal has practical tools to restore wealth, happiness, and pride, ensuring a vibrant, independent future for our children, grandchildren, and generations to come.

We need your support to fix our country. One chance, one term, one time.

Pete Verhoeven

President
NZ Loyal Party

Introducing Our New Leadership Team

I am pleased to announce the formation of our new Board, which includes two new regular board members: Les Berger and Stefan Paladin. Their fresh perspectives will strengthen our strategic direction. Additionally, we welcome Te Rina O’Connell as our new Treasurer and Chris Dassler as our Press and Media Secretary. Their expertise will be instrumental in driving our mission forward.

Our leader, Kelvyn, has exercised his constitutional authority to appoint John Alcock as Deputy Leader, a decision announced at the AGM. John’s introduction was a highlight of the meeting, and his insights underscored the challenges we face as a nation. He highlighted the stark reality that today’s wages hold just 10% of the purchasing power they had in 1971 – a sobering statistic that underscores the urgency of our proposed 1% transaction tax, which will provide significant relief to every wage earner in New Zealand.

John also spoke candidly about the detrimental impact of Marxist governments, backing his claims with compelling data. His depth of knowledge, evidence-based approach, and passion make him an invaluable asset to our leadership team. Together with Kelvyn, John will deliver powerful, fact-driven messages to the public, and I am excited about the impact they will have.

Acknowledging Past Contributions

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Brenton Faithful, Marilyn Park, and Vince McLeod for their dedicated service during the previous administration. Their contributions laid a strong foundation for our ongoing work.

Current Board Members:

President: Pete Verhoeven

Leader: Kelvyn Alp

Deputy Leader: John Alcock

Secretary: Julian Crawford

Treasurer: TeRina O’Connell

Assistant Secretary: Lisa Williams

Press Secretary: Chris Dassler

Regular Board Members:

Les Berger

Stefan Paladin

Youth President: Vacant

John Alcock has been announced as the new Deputy Leader of NZ Loyal at the AGM held on November 8th in Orewa. John brings a wealth of experience to the campaign. For more information see John’s profile below:

John Alcock – Deputy Leader

I’m honored to have been appointed Deputy Leader of New Zealand Loyal. It’s a privilege to stand alongside so many Kiwis who share the same vision – a free, fair, and self-determined New Zealand.

For those who don’t know me, my name is John Alcock. I come from a background in law, business strategy, and anti-financial crime, having worked with the New Zealand Police Financial Intelligence Unit, ACAMS, and major financial and compliance institutions across New Zealand and Australia. I’ve built companies from the ground up, led national conferences, and fought to expose systems that erode transparency and accountability.

My professional experience has taught me one thing above all else – when ordinary people stand together, informed and courageous, no institution can suppress the truth for long.

As your Deputy Leader, I’ll bring that same drive and discipline to NZ Loyal: applying analytical clarity, legal precision, and strategic foresight to strengthen our movement, build policy grounded in principle, and keep our focus on what truly matters – returning power to the people.

We are not here to be managed. We are here to be heard, to stand firm, and to take back our country.

Thank you for your trust, your loyalty, and your courage.

Loyal to you, not to them.

Whangarei Mayor Ken Couper is unaware of an important bill making its way through parliament affecting his own dairy farming activities.

Marty Robinson from GE Free Northland at the GE Bill awareness rally making clear the dangers of genetically modified and engineered organisms.

NZ Loyal will repeal any legislation put in place that allows GE to take root. It will also ban any future introduction.