Deadly Landslides Strike New Zealand After Record Rainfall
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
In this time of tragedy, there is no room for politics. New Zealanders must unite in their grief and resilience to support the heroic efforts of first responders, local communities and everyday citizens in tackling this crisis. The Luxon government will bolster these endeavors by committing its resources to building a path toward recovery.
Government-critical narrative
Despite what the Luxon government may claim, these landslides and the weather events that triggered them are inherently political. Natural disasters such as these do not occur out of thin air; they materialize from the government's refusal to tackle the climate crisis. If New Zealanders wish to avoid further tragedies, then they must prioritize climate action.
Climate-skeptic narrative
It's easy to dismiss any extreme weather event as a consequence of climate change, but in reality they're usually influenced by a myriad of factors that have nothing to do with it. More research is needed before we can establish any direct causal link between the two.
Metaculus Prediction
Public Figures
Go Deeper
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.20.2