Gordon Campbell on the chemical weapons attack (and response) in Syria
The past week’s headlines about the chemical attacks in Syria – and the military response by the US, France and Britain – have tended to […]
Columns
Gordon Campbell on the prevailing media narratives about the Labour–led coalition
The media reports the facts…. but that’s not the end of it, and nor should it be. It also marshals those facts and creates a […]
Gordon Campbell on the Hit&Run inquiry
So there is to be a government inquiry into the 2010 raid on an Afghan village, as described in the Nicky Hager/Jon Stephenson book Hit […]
Gordon Campbell on Labour’s timidity, and the temporary outrage over Syria
What an odd post-Cabinet press conference that was yesterday, from PM Jacinda Ardern and Finance Minister Grant Robertson. Overall, it was like hearing from the […]
Gordon Campbell on racial profiling at Immigration New Zealand
So Immigration New Zealand has been using racial profiling to guide its decisions on which kinds of immigrants it should deport. Oh sure, they’re saying […]
Gordon Campbell on making our roads safer, less congested
If Auckland wants a better, modern transport system – and if the rest of the country wants safer roads that kill and injure fewer people […]
Gordon Campbell on Middlemore Hospital as a symptom of neglect
Week by week, the sheer scale of the neglect to crucial social infrastructure by the Key/English government becomes apparent – and with it the size […]
Gordon Campbell on the looming inquiry into the Hit & Run events
It now seems certain the government will be launching an independent inquiry (after Easter) into the allegations contained in the Hit & Run book, and […]
Gordon Campbell on Clare Curran’s dim future
Now that the initial shock of Carol Hirschfeld’s resignation has worn off, we’re getting to the sharp end of the RNZ story. Why did Broadcasting […]
Gordon Campbell on the hype about the Reserve Bank’s new governor
It is time for the ritual handover at the Reserve Bank. Sometime today, Adrian Orr will don the gubernatorial undergarments, drain the Goblet of Knowledge […]
Gordon Campbell on a trade war with China
As things currently stand, the White House has NOT included New Zealand on its list of allies whose steel and aluminium exports to the US […]
Gordon Campbell on the Ardern/Bridges problems with credibility
Credibility is always such a fickle, unstable element in politics. You know it when you see it, though. In January a US publication called The […]
Gordon Campbell on the PM’s Indonesian guest, West Papua and Perfume Genius
As David Lange once said, it is almost impossible to get New Zealand to think about Indonesia, the huge nation sitting right on our doorstep.
Gordon Campbell on Winston Peters’ attempts to cozy up to Trump, and to Russia
Attempts by the Foreign Affairs Minister to downplay Russia’s role in the shooting down of MH17 have already earned unflattering coverage across the Tasman
Gordon Campbell on Police pursuits
The willingness of the Police to play Russian roulette with public safety via its current policy on pursuits continues to end in carnage
Gordon Campbell on the #MeToo movement in Sweden
The #MeToo campaign has been approached by Sweden in an impressively systematic fashion.
Gordon Campbell on the departure of Steven Joyce
In the end, the party leadership left the loaded revolver on Steven Joyce’s desk, and he did the decent thing. Amy Adams as Finance spokesperson […]
Gordon Campbell on our unthinking readiness to confront China
Other countries regard trade deals as an adjunct of diplomacy and defence and proceed accordingly.
Gordon Campbell on why prison inmates should be allowed to vote
What the government’s BORA announcement signaled first and foremost, was that prisoners in the New Zealand could be about to win back the right to vote.
Gordon Campbell on the poisoned chalice Simon Bridges has won
Voters on the centre-right of politics need to pray that Simon Bridges is not the only winner from the National leadership contest.
Gordon Campbell on the David Parker and MFAT claims about the CPTPP
The realities of market competition on the ground are likely to put a considerable dent in the rosy estimates delivered by the MFAT modeling
Gordon Campbell on the gun debate, here and in the US
Gun ownership in the US is a mystery to New Zealanders, and so is the constitutional fetish that surrounds it.
Gordon Campbell on the Mueller probe, and Russia’s economy
In itself, the indictment of 13 Russian nationals wlll do little to change views on the Mueller investigation
Gordon Campbell on National’s leadership contest
Essentially, English ran a great FPP campaign last year, and if the political system hadn’t changed 25 years ago you’d count that performance as a success…
Gordon Campbell on bidding good riddance to charter schools
There has never been a body of evidence – either here or in the US or anywhere else – to show that charter schools provide better educational results for kids
Gordon Campbell on this week’s sharemarket panic
The Dow has precious little to do with the NZ sharemarket…
Gordon Campbell on the Nunes memo, and the alleged liberal plot against Trump
Every now and then the US system erupts and throws up a piece of political magma that can’t be described or explained in any rational fashion.
Gordon Campbell on National’s leadership rumbles
There’s a ritual to leadership changes after an election loss, and the National Party is dutifully following the script.
Gordon Campbell on the child poverty targets
As PM Jacinda Ardern said yesterday, targets alone are not enough.
Gordon Campbell on the fake scare about international students
Shock horror. International students pay fees, spend money, work part-time and pay tax in the NZ economy, and ultimately some of them stay on!