There are two dimensions to the security measures announced yesterday: (a) the deployment of New Zealand forces in ‘training” roles inside Iraq, and (b) the […]
Every now and then Parliament gets an MP who is regarded kindly by those in the opposing ranks as being a basically good sort who, […]
By co-incidence, one of the prime dangers of the government’s new employment relations law has been underlined by the release of the death and injury […]
If the Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal wasn’t such a serious matter, this would be pretty funny. Here’s Trade Minister Tim Groser on RNZ this […]
Was John Key born lucky or what? Political performance tends to be judged on three things – the unemployment rate, the petrol price at the […]
Ridiculous reported comments on RNZ this morning by Trade Minister Tim Groser, as he sought to dampen down concerns about yesterday’s leaked draft of the […]
The release by Julian Assange on Wikileaks of the draft Trands Pacific Partnership chapter on intellectual property – including drug patents – contains some pretty […]
Apparently, the Key government is still pondering how New Zealand will contribute to the fight against Islamic State. Long may it ponder, given the lack […]
The politicisation of (a) the public service and (b) the operations of the Official Information Act have been highlighted by the policy advice package on […]
So the Key government is about to launch a four week review of the ability of our existing legislation to deal with “suspected and returning […]
One of the main achievements of the Clark government was that it kept New Zealand out of overt involvement in the 2003 Iraq invasion. It […]
When Parliament resumes on October 20, Prime Minister John Key will reportedly be making a major speech on security and intelligence issues. The speech is […]
Will the management split on security and intelligence issues that Prime Minister John Key announced yesterday serve to enhance or to reduce his public accountability […]
It isn’t often that one story can encapsulate (a) the bogus rhetoric used to justify sky-high pay packages for top executives, (b) the unequal way […]
The Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal is one of those litmus issues that has always had more to do with one’s place on the political […]
With the election won, it’s time to find jobs for the boy. David Seymour is the Act Party’s latest scrounger to be rewarded by the […]
There is an Alice Through the Looking Glass quality to the current response to the Islamic State. Everything about it seems inside out. Many people […]
Right now, embattled Labour leader David Cunliffe has three options. None of them are particularly attractive for him personally, or for the Labour Party. In […]
A week can be a very long time in Scotland’s 300 year struggle for independence. The “ No” vote last week that seemed to end […]
While Labour leader David Cunliffe still appears to be in denial about the extent of Saturday night’s debacle, there was hardly a single redeeming feature […]
This election campaign is getting no less strange as it heads on down to the wire. Winston Peters is still refusing to say whether a […]
For the last two days, I’ve turned my column over to a couple of guest columnists who are first time voters. They’ve been asked to […]
For the next two days, I’m turning my column over to two guest columnists who are first time voters. I’ve asked them to explain why […]
[See correction below. link] The credibility issues have come down to two main ones: 1 The email. This has to do with whether Key knowingly […]
All that hanging out with the All Blacks clearly hasn’t taught Prime Minister John Key a thing about the ethics of playing the ball, and […]
For the Syrian people, the next ten years offers them two really unpleasant choices. They can be slaughtered by the forces of the Islamic State, […]
Hmmm. So National’s tax cuts package turns out to be one of those television advertisements that screams a headline promise – perfect skin! a youth […]
Say one thing for Russian President Vladimir Putin. At least he’s given NATO a purpose in life. Right now, that consists of being something that […]
Heading into the election home stretch, voters have a clear choice about the best way to help low and middle income New Zealanders. They can […]
Right now, Prime Minister John Key seems intent on limiting the scope of any inquiry into his government’s dealings with Cameron Slater. The declared aim […]
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