Gordon Campbell on finding a model to replace the monarchy
One feels reluctant to pre-empt the verdict of history, but maybe we need to have a Plan B in mind just in case the reign […]
Columns
Gordon Campbell on whether Spotify can save itself; plus a playlist
Spotify has to be one of the most interestingly futile mouse-wheels of 21st century capitalism. Run, run, run goes the Spotify mouse but it never, […]
Gordon Campbell on National’s ongoing problems with abortion
Despite Christopher Luxon’s assurances to the contrary, there is no such thing as “settled law” in New Zealand. Apart from the six provisions that are […]
Gordon Campbell on the Roe v Wade aftermath
Now that the right of US women to abortion (formerly protected by Roe v Wade) has been abolished, the important role of medication-induced abortion will […]
Gordon Campbell on the fate of Julian Assange
Has swapping Scott Morrison for Anthony Albanese made any discernible difference to Australia’s relations with the US, China, the Pacific and New Zealand ? Not […]
Gordon Campbell on the Penny Wong visit
Good grief. Has foreign policy commentary really devolved to the point where our diplomatic effort is being measured by how many overseas trips have been […]
Gordon Campbell on the price tag for closer US military ties
So far, the closer military relationship envisaged by Jacinda Ardern and Joseph Biden at their recent White House meeting has been analysed mainly in terms […]
Gordon Campbell on the flaws in National’s pet solution to gangs and poverty
In the 50 years since Norm Kirk first promised to take the bikes off the bikies, our politicians have tried again and again to win […]
Gordon Campbell on Sinai, where it suits us to waive international treaties
Farmers are currently enjoying the highest prices and payouts in the history of this country. They will never be better placed to acknowledge that their […]
Gordon Campbell on why nurses are our prime export to Australia
That giant sucking noise is the sound of the jobs of our nurses, doctors, and midwives being vacuumed up by medical recruiters from New South […]
Gordon Campbell on New Zealand’s surrender to the US, plus a playlist
Like a unicorn, New Zealand’s independent foreign policy is a fabulous creature – highly treasured, rarely seen but credited with magical healing powers. Some say […]
Gordon Campbell on regulating guns and supermarkets
Thanks to decades of free market zealots opposed on principle to sensible regulation… We’re now faced with a supermarket duopoly so entrenched that any prospective […]
Gordon Campbell on the panic in the Pacific over China
For years, it has been no secret that China wants closer security and trade ties with the small nations of the Pacific region. All part […]
Gordon Campbell on the criminalising of rap music
As a reader has forcefully pointed out, the original opening sentence to this article could be read as perpetuating racist tropes. My apologies. My intention […]
Gordon Campbell on the lessons from Australia’s election
Australia’s new PM Anthony Albanese faces an obvious dilemma, barely before he gets his feet under the desk. Australia is the world’s leading exporter of […]
Gordon Campbell on Budget 2022
At base, the political biffo back and forth on the merits of Budget 2022 comes down to only one thing. Who is the better manager […]
Gordon Campbell on the Australian election toss-up
The foibles of the Aussie electoral system are pretty well-known. The Lucky Country doesn’t have proportional representation. Voting for everyone over 18 is compulsory, but […]
Gordon Campbell on the Emissions Reduction Plan non-event
Clearly, the attempt to take the politics out of climate change has itself been a political decision, and one meant to remove much of the […]
Gordon Campbell on Rabuka’s possible return in Fiji
Fiji signed onto China’s Belt and Road initiative in 2018, along with a separate agreement on economic co-operation and aid. Yet it took the recent […]
Gordon Campbell on the youth crime furore
So far, the excited media response to the spike in “ram-raid” incidents is being countered by evidence that in reality, youth crime is steeply in […]
Gordon Campbell on abortion rights
So a Supreme Court stacked with ideologues selected by Donald Trump is about to make an ideological decision to ban the legal right of American […]
Gordon Campbell On Political Can-kicking, And The“ Louie Louie” Saga
One of the more infuriating aspects of the current political debate is the way the National Party says it would be more rigorous, and more […]
Gordon Campbell on Parker’s tax plan and Musk’s Twitter purchase
Such is our devotion to the ordinary Kiwi battler, we ruthlessly tax the wages they earn and the stuff they buy, while letting people who […]
Gordon Campbell on the Tame interview, and Macron’s endless challenges
National truly is the party of aspiration. Any centre-right voter who watched their champion’s trainwreck interview with Jack Tame on last Sunday’s Q & A […]
Gordon Campbell on Ukraine virtue signalling, and our inflation spike
Inflation at 6.9% is a bad sign of the rising cost of living, and hidden within the headline numbers are some even grislier figures. As […]
Gordon Campbell on the MIQ memo and France’s elections
One word has largely been missing from the coverage of the MoH advice about MIQ: Omicron. The relevant memo was written in November. It was […]
Gordon Campbell on gendered perceptions in politics
In recent weeks, barely a day has gone by without Christopher Luxon demonstrating the chasm of ability that exists between the leaders of our two […]
Gordon Campbell on sending a Hercules off to Europe
Yesterday’s decision to dispatch one of our ageing C-130 Hercules cargo planes to Europe for two months will – hopefully – help to get essential […]
Gordon Campbell on virtue signalling about Ukraine
Safe to say, not a single life will be saved in Ukraine if and when our Foreign Affairs select committee can ever make up its […]
Gordon Campbell on framing the media debate
Quite justifiably, TVNZ has got a lot of stick on social media for the bizarre framing it used in last night’s 6pm nws bulletin to […]