Gordon Campbell on the causes of poverty
One of the myths of the conservative right is that poverty is primarily a state of mind, and that welfare only corrodes the mindset necessary for people to pull themselves out of poverty.
May 2017
Gordon Campbell on the twists in the UK election
The Conservatives’ original 21 point lead has come tumbling down in one recent poll, to a mere five point gap. Margin of error territory, in Britain.
Gordon Campbell on yesterday’s Budget
It may seem like Oliver to be so bold as to ask the Finance Minister for more gruel – but what the Dickens, Steven Joyce… is this Budget really as good as it gets?
Gordon Campbell on (not) taking responsibility, terrorism porn, and Dylan’s 76th birthday
So Martin Matthews, our current Auditor-General wishes he could have detected “earlier” the fraud that occurred on his watch at the Ministry of Transport.
Gordon Campbell on the Navy’s dealings with Fat Leonard, and Twin Peaks
Oversight at any level of performance is not New Zealand’s strong suit… The Navy has now gone one step beyond. It won’t even ask itself whether it did a good job.
Gordon Campbell on the demonising of Iran
Will New Zealand still be willing to pursue its recent trade overtures to Iran, now Donald Trump has singled out Iran as the main source of terrorism and instability in the Middle East?
Gordon Campbell on Bill English’s bizarre new/old trade deal
English has not got the foggiest idea what benefits this deal stands to bring right now, in a month’s time, or by year’s end – much less longer term out until 2030.
Gordon Campbell on housing, exploding lap-tops and Jon Taplin
How useful a thing really is National’s programme of building 34,000 houses, as a solution to the crisis of housing affordability? Answer: not very.
Gordon Campbell on dealing with Japan over the TPP
As PM Bill English flies off to Japan with his business delegation today, his discussions with Shinzo Abe will focus on how to keep the TPP trade pact alive, now that the US has bailed.
Gordon Campbell on Alfred Ngaro’s standover tactics
When someone like Alfred Ngaro is being paid circa$350,000 a year (in salary and perks) you’d think he wouldn’t have to learn on the job about the basic moral rules of his role.
Hello Margaret, Goodnight Moon
The story of Margaret Wise Brown…
Raymond Scott : The man who heard the future
Two decades after his death, electronic music pioneer Raymond Scott’s influence is still apparent.
Organising against the gig economy
As yet, there has been less traction for forms of the gig economy such as Uber in Latin America. This may be about to change…
The Social Investment Model, Explained
As Chairman-at-large of the National Committee for Ideas that Sounded Good at the Time, I get asked a lot about this social investment strategy lark.
Gordon Campbell on our caving in to the Aussies
The latest expression of this lopsided relationship has seen young Kiwis at Australian universities being hit with a trebling of their tuition fees.
Gordon Campbell on the killing of the Fairfax/NZME merger
The vast majority of the public would agree with the Commission. Journalism is not baked beans. Society conveys certain powers and responsibilities on the Fourth Estate for a reason.
Gordon Campbell on the kerfuffle over Willie Jackson’s list ranking
For a brief period yesterday, extreme weather conditions associated with Hurricane Willie resulted in an ‘unprecedented’ delay in the release of the Labour list rankings.