A look at Donald Trump’s seismic foreign policy shifts and what America’s controversial vote at the United Nations alongside ‘strongman’ nations means for New Zealand
Read MoreTrump's UN vote a defining act that points to day of reckoning for NZ
Trump's Comeback: It's a new, strongman era, 'whether they like it or not'
Donald Trump’s comeback is an historic achievement that re-writes the laws of politics and sets the United States on a new course it hasn’t seen for generations and that will test the guardrails of democracy
Read MoreIt’s not (just) about the economy, stupid.
The polls say economics is the #1 issue for Americans but the debate seems to be a culture war for the soul of the United States. Thing is, they’re all different sides of the same anger and there’s data to prove it
Read MoreMight Kamala Harris be about to get a 'stardust' moment like Jacinda Ardern?
A burst of grassroots support, a rush of donations, a new, surprise candidate sweeping into an election race crying out for some ‘stardust’. Could the US presidential election have echoes of New Zealand 2017?
Read MoreUnsurprising, but Trump shooting creates opportunity for a surprising response
As we unite to condemn the shooting at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania, can we honestly say we’re shocked? But perhaps this event could serve to unite a bitterly divided America behind a more peaceful path
Read MoreDems need to ask the right question about Biden as his age now defines the campaign
It was billed as a make-or-break new conference, but the fact is Biden’s cognitive ability is now on the ballot in November and the Democrats need to ask their own make-or-break questions
Read MoreA debate to make the world tremble
The opening presidential debate of 2024 was like no other. This was an awful debate of lies and incoherence, dangerously far from the policy battles of only years ago; a debate of golf swings and porn starts rather than issues
Read MoreThe Incredible Shrinking Nicola Willis
Nicola Willis delivered exactly what she promised at Election 2023 (more or less). But with the election in the rearview mirror, voters may be in for a less careful Willis in the years ahead as she promises cuts will be “business as usual”
Read MoreLet's put down our chisels and let te Tiriti o Waitangi evolve
The debate this Waitangi Day is urging us to certainty and resolution, but we should resist the temptation. History cannot be carved in stone and those trying risk dividing the country
Read MoreDavid Seymour promise of grand designs reveals tension at the heart of government
ACT leader David Seymour spoke of generational change in his state of the nation speech. Yet this government is built more for tweaking than transformation, so what’s a determined change-maker to do?
Read MoreNational-led government's 'back on track' promise somewhere down the track
As politicans break for the year, the clock is still ticking on the government’s 100 Day Plan. So what’s it delivered so far? And what’s it taught us about the new coalition?
Read MoreThe electorate swing, Labour limbo and Luxon-Hipkins two-step
Chris Hipkins needs a new song and dance routine and fast, or he could be doing the limbo and losing the next generation of Labour's leaders
Read MoreNational, ACT & NZ First: Delivering the sun or just beach cricket?
The power of... nothing. Robertson
Grant Robertson hopes the promise of no recession and falling inflation is what voters really, really want to hear right now, more than grandiose new policies. But he’s keeps headroom for election promises
Read MoreR.E.S.P.E.C.T. Find out what it means to Me...ka
Meka Whaitiri’s switch from Labour to Te Pāti Māori raises questions about whose mana is being enhanced - not by the decision itself but how it’s being done. What thought has she given to her public duties as an MP?
Read MoreThe faulty logic of Stuart Nash & the Ombudsman's opportunity
When is a cabinet minister not a cabinet minister? The faulty logic of Stuart Nash has landed him and Labour in a heap of trouble but opened the door to serious reform of the Official Information Act
Read MoreSaving Stuart Nash: Explaining Chris Hipkins' unexpected political calculation
Chris Hipkins has shown himself to be a quick fix guy in his time as Prime Minister. So why didn’t he take the path of least resistance and sack Stuart Nash? How does that compare to Rob Campbell? And what does it tell us about this year’s election?
Read MoreMum knows better than Maureen where the winds of climate change are blowing
The terrible damage of Cyclone Gabrielle has the potential to up-end election year just as it has up-ended so many lives. For National it brings danger (enter Maureen Pugh), for the Greens, opportunity
Read MoreHow to read Chipp-ese: Translating Chris Hipkins' first post-cab statement
At Chris Hipkins’ first post-cabinet press conference as PM we got introduced to the new language of Chipp-ese. So reading between the lines, what did his words really mean?
Read MoreAotearoa New Zealand as a "little experiment". The rights, wrongs & other wrongs of Christoper Luxon
Christopher Luxon’s description of New Zealand as “a little experiment” prompts questions about the story tell ourselves about our country… and some other history he needs to factcheck
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