Gordon Campbell on the local body election result in Wellington
For obvious reasons, politics is more of a big deal in the capital city than anywhere else in the country. Even so, fewer than four […]
Columns
Gordon Campbell on betraying the Kurds, and the criticism of Adrian Orr
The Americans have now thrown the Kurds under the bus and created the ideal conditions for an IS comeback – all done so that Donald Trump can brag he brought the US troops home.
Gordon Campbell on a superb new book on the leaky homes scandal, and Cowboy Bebop
The real value of Dyer’s book lies in how thoroughly he has unpicked all the various factors that came together to turn this entirely preventable disaster into an inevitability.
Gordon Campbell on British apologies and interest rate fiddling
In the 1990s, the awesome powers of central bankers would cause markets to tremble… Nowadays, central bankers can hack away at interest rates and nothing will happen.
Gordon Campbell on whether a Kiwi version of Boris Johnson could succeed in suspending our Parliament
Two experts cited at length by the NZ Herald seem to agree that our courts couldn’t reach a decision like the UK Supreme Court’s here, because our laws would expressly rule it out
Gordon Campbell on the Saudis (not) getting away with murdering Khashoggi
On October 2nd last year, the dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered by a hit squad of assassins acting on the orders of the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad bin Salman.
Gordon Campbell on the media falling out of love with Jacinda Ardern, and other climate change concerns
The sensible antidote to Jacinda-mania isn’t this anti-Jacinda (middle of the) road rage. Especially since her alleged sins look so trivial, compared to what her peers are up to.
Gordon Campbell on Greta Thunberg, and Friday climate change actions
While there’s been an understandable focus by the media upon Greta Thunber, one remarkable thing about the movement she has inspired is that it is so de-centralised.
Gordon Campbell on the RWC, and the Operation Burnham inquiry debacle
Last week’s cross-examination demonstrated that the NZDF had consistently misled its Ministers (and the wider public) for years, over the impact of our activities in Afghanistan
Gordon Campbell on abortion law reform, and the US Electoral College nightmare
New Zealand and New South Wales are both trying to reform their abortion laws right now – and in our case, that reform is happening for the first time in 42 years.
Gordon Campbell on the Saudi oil refinery crisis
The Houthis in Yemen have ample motives and prior form in carrying out drone attacks in retaliation for the joint Saudi/Emirates onslaught against Yemen
Gordon Campbell on allegations of left wing bias in the mainstream media
The “left wing bias” accusation dates back at least to the mid 1990s… The charge was ridiculous then, and is ridiculous now.
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s mishandling of the alleged sexual assault
The focus of Labour’s alleged sexual assault scandal has now shifted from the party organisation to the Beehive.
Gordon Campbell on this week’s damning report into the SIS/GCSB’s tacit compliance with torture
The IGIS report investigates NZ’s role in the CIA’s illegal system of rendition and torture of captives in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, and the subsequent invasion of Afghanistan.
Gordon Campbell on China’s concessions to Hong Kong’s protest movement, and Johnson’s Waterloo
What a wretched time is being had by Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam.
Gordon Campbell on the necessary government actions to combat the measles outbreaks
At Monday’s post-Cabinet press conference, the director-general of Health predicted that the current measles outbreaks will peak in about two weeks time. Let’s hope.
Gordon Campbell on the only way of ensuring Boris gets blamed for Brexit
In the face of Boris Johnson’s latest provocations, the best response for Remainers and Tory rebels alike would be… to do nothing at all.
Gordon Campbell on the cheap politics that National is playing with gun reform
In the wake of the Port Arthur massacre, Tim Fischer chose not to pander to his own party’s worst short term instincts…
Gordon Campbell on our suicide rates, and Prince Andrew
It seems unfair to expect those hard-pressed families, schools and communities to transform society from the grass roots upwards, and give hope to those most at risk.
Gordon Campbell on why New Zealand shouldn’t try to curry favour with Trump
The bizarre spat over Donald Trump trying to buy Greenland shows just how foolish it would be for any country to treat the US as […]
Gordon Campbell on the damning Commerce Commission report on the fuel industry
Yesterday’s interim Commerce Commission report on the fuel industry will do nothing to endear the major oil companies to the New Zealand public
Gordon Campbell on the Hong Kong protest movement, and Sleater-Kinney
Nearly ten weeks after the huge Hong Kong protests began, 1.7 million people on the streets in the rain is a testament to how strong the pro-democracy movement has become.
Gordon Campbell on why Boris Johnson is threatening to shoot this puppy
It may help to think of the October 31 ‘no deal’ Brexit as a warm, rascally puppy. And British PM Boris Johnson says he will shoot that puppy, unless someone stops him.
Gordon Campbell on NZF’s ability to maintain the ban on prisoner voting
Justice Minister Andrew Little has indicated that he will be taking a paper to Cabinet with the aim of repealing the prisoner voting ban. Good luck with that.
Gordon Campbell on the Supreme Court review of the Peter Ellis case
There is a sense of inevitability about the Supreme Court being asked to review the Peter Ellis case.
Gordon Campbell on reforming the abortion laws
Undoubtedly, the proposed law will be better than the 1977 legislation it replaces. Yet surely, you’d hope there would be progress, 42 years down the track.
Gordon Campbell on the two public inquiries at odds over the need for shutting out the public
In New Zealand, there are two major inquiries into security/defence issues running in parallel, and the one demonstrating more transparency and candour is not the one that you’d expect.
Gordon Campbell on some of the barriers facing female politicians
On the current evidence voters are less likely to regard a female politician as ‘likeable’ than a male one, and this perception tends be a barrier that only female candidates have to face.
Gordon Campbell on the Ihumatao dispute
There is no tidy way forward on the Ihumatao dispute, given that the mana whenua with valid claims to the site are locked in conflict.
Gordon Campbell on the latest phase in the struggle for gun reform
The gun lobby can be relied on to drag its feet at best (and actively resist at worst) in the face of any attempt to make gun ownership safer.