News stories to watch for in 2025

OPINION: Welcome to 2025, folks. It promises to be a year full of high-profile political drama both here and across the globe.

If you thought last year was eventful, buckle up because it is going to be a wild ride.

Here are my top three news stories to watch out for in 2025.

The Treaty Principles Bill

Let’s start with the gift that keeps on giving – the ACT Party’s controversial Treaty Principles Bill.

To those who have forgotten or tried to block it out of their minds, a quick reminder: the bill seeks to define the Treaty of Waitangi’s principles.

Last year, the bill passed its first reading with the support of National and New Zealand First as part of the coalition agreement, sparking arguably the largest demonstration outside Parliament in our nation’s history.

Despite the dynamic duo (National party leader Christopher Luxon and New Zealand First’s Winston Peters) repeatedly claiming they wouldn’t be supporting the Bill beyond the first reading – they effectively allowed their buddy David Seymour to open Pandora’s Box.

The Treaty Principles Bill is now in the select committee phase, which means it’s up for public consultation. This will undoubtedly spark tensions across the motu that the Government will need to manage.

Will Prime Minister Christopher Luxon be able to rise to the occasion and be the greater unifier our country needs?

Will the coalition be able to keep it together? Or will David Seymour seek to break the agreement if he doesn’t get his prized Bill past the second reading?

President-elect Donald Trump will return to the White House in January. Photo/File

President Trump: The Sequel

Like any bad reality show, a blonde bombshell has entered the villa, or more accurately, the White House.

Donald Trump, the man who once again defied the polls and pulled off one of the greatest political comebacks of all time, is returning to the Oval Office.

I believe this should be of interest to us because of how the Trump administration plans to manage the United States’ relationship with the Pacific region.

Under the Biden regime, we saw an unprecedented level of US investment in the Pacific as a way to counter China’s growing influence in the region.

It begs the question of whether Trump will continue to pursue Biden’s foreign policy agenda or pull back and allow China to grow its presence in the Pacific.

Tonga's parliament meet to elect the new Prime Minister. Photo/Screenshot

Stability in the Pacific

Last year saw quite a level of instability in the Pacific, from the deadly riots in New Caledonia to Vanuatu’s snap election, Tonga’s Prime Minister resigning, and a vote of no confidence in the Solomon Islands' leader.

It’s fair to say it was a rather chaotic year for some parts of the Pacific, and this year arguably will be more of the same.

What next for New Caledonia? How will Pacific leaders navigate a Trump Presidency? Will another island nation leader face a vote of no confidence?

Expect all to be revealed throughout the year.