Gordon Campbell on the Greens’ ongoing problems
Hard to treat the Greens’ belated decision to stand a candidate in Ohariu as being anything other than a desperation move
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Gordon Campbell on DHB deficits and free trade
DHBs are under intense pressure to reduce deficits within a climate of chronic underfunding.
Gordon Campbell on the life and times of Peter Dunne
In the end, Mr Pragmatic calmly read the signs of impending defeat and went out on his own terms.
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s campaign launch
One of the key motifs of Ardern’s speech was her repeated use of the phrase – “ Now, what?”
Social Welfare, Explained
A farewell to welfare faring well.
Gordon Campbell on why Labour isn’t responsible for Barnaby Joyce
Evidently, the National government is similarly desperate for anything that might discredit or derail the Ardern juggernaut, even if that means throwing Peter Dunne under a bus.
Gordon Campbell on North Korea, neo-Nazism, and Milo
With a bit of luck the planet won’t be devastated by nuclear war in the next few days. US President Donald Trump will have begun […]
Gordon Campbell on the Turei finale
So the political career of Metiria Turei is, in effect, now over. It goes to show the double standard in politics is alive and well.
Gordon Campbell on the nation’s moral tizzy over Metiria Turei
Ever since George Washington confessed to chopping down the cherry tree, his example has been taken to heart by every politician following in his wake.
Gordon Campbell on National’s current inability to find its target
Early days yet, but the National Party seems to be having trouble in finding a credible line of attack on Jacinda Ardern.
Euthanasia: an interview with David Seymour
Exploring the moral and legal aspects of assisted dying
Gordon Campbell on the Labour leadership change
A lot more than a change of leader is required, longer term. That will have to wait until next year, and beyond.
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s love, lost
To realistically hope to form a government, Labour needs to be punching around 30% at least, yet that figure looks like a truly distant hope.
Gordon Campbell on Act, the centre-right’s perennial ugly duckling
National has just endorsed Act leader David Seymour in Epsom, it being that time on the electoral calendar for the ceremonial anointing to take place once again.
Gordon Campbell on the real truth deficit in welfare
The most troubling thing about the current emphasis of government policy is that “success” seems to be judged entirely on whether people are being moved off benefits…
Gordon Campbell on the Bojo visit
British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson is in town today, just over a year since his political career peaked… and then wobbled off into a grey […]
Gordon Campbell on why Trump is a good thing
As candidate and President alike, Trump has been a bad salesman for the policies he espouses.
Gordon Campbell on the ch-ch-changes at IRD
Cutting jobs on the scale being flagged at IRD doesn’t make much sense, given that tax law and IRD investigations are set to become increasingly complex…
Gordon Campbell on the Greens’ room for political pragmatism
The Greens here are currently being criticized by the commentariat for not making the same kind of pragmatic choices that sunk the Australian Democrats.
Gordon Campbell on being humane about welfare, child support and tax
It made for an unusual Venn diagram, but Greens co-leader Metiria Turei and Finance Minister Steven Joyce were briefly sharing some common elements this week…
Gordon Campbell on the National v Labour family support packages
Too bad that poverty can bring out the worst in people. Especially at times, among politicians…
Gordon Campbell on Winston Peters sitting pretty
Traditionally Peters and his party are good finishers in election campaigns and yet this year they’re already enjoying a strong 11% showing.
Gordon Campbell on the current US moves against North Korea
If Martians visited early last week, they’d probably be scratching their heads as to why North Korea was being treated as a potential trigger for global conflict.
Gordon Campbell on the Shane Jones concept
Since Shane Jones has never really existed, the media felt it necessary to invent him.
Gordon Campbell on Peter Thiel’s bad attitude problem
No-one in government seems to have done due diligence on Thiel’s business values to see if he would be a good fit for our corporate environment.
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s policy resurgence, and Alex Chilton
For much of this year, almost all the diversity in politics has been down at the retail end, where apparent differences reside in the tone, and in details.
Gordon Campbell on the EU’s beef with Google
EU competition watchdogs, who have just levied a $3.3 billion fine on Google, with anti-competitive practices at the heart of a court battle that’s been seven years in the making.
Gordon Campbell on the America’s Cup
The fact NZ now reigns supreme once again in the most sophisticated contest in the world’s most elite sport can’t help but reflect the trajectory the country has been on since the 1980s.
Max Rashbrooke on how to make government more open
New Zealand scores well on many international rankings of openness… those surveys have also pinpointed major weaknesses.
Gordon Campbell on the fallout from the Barclay tape
Anyone feeling that the watchdog roles of the media and Parliament have seen justice done to the scoundrel behind the taping scandal… well, maybe they should think again.