There's what the law says. Then there's the law that gets applied. Why do we view the former so differently to the latter?
Read MoreThe ETS: a lemon nobody will buy
Nick Smith’s on the road again, selling his emissions trading scheme to a hostile public. It’s a green lemon: the less voters understand it, the better it will be for the government
Read MoreSideshow Mark and the Close Up circus
The world's fattest mum, the nutso who tasered a pregnant lady, and senior citizens making their own coffins. This is what constitutes quality current affairs? Come on, we deserve better
Read MoreG8 and G20 a billion dollar boondoggle
Canadians are aghast at revelations the government is splurging more than a billion dollars hosting the G8 and G20 summits for three days. While most goes on security and of course flowers, there's also cash for a fake lake
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 10
UN Security Council imposes new sanctions on Iran over nuclear programme (+ analysis); North Korean guards kill Chinese residents; NATO convoy attacked in Pakistan, seven dead; Germany and France press for faster regulations and wider short selling ban; and more
Read MoreForeshore & seabed: foundering again on the rock of property rights and fair play
Whether like Labour you believe the foreshore is everybody's or like National you think it's nobody's, this impasse was always coming. We need to debate ownership of the coastline as a whole
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday June 9
EU debt fears grow despite new promises and British and German cuts (+ analysis); New Japanese Prime Minister names cabinet; Spanish workers protest wage cuts; Ahmadinejad on his way to China; and more
Read MoreRandom thoughts on blogging, and other classy chatter
Should new media try to copy journalism, or write its own fresh story? And which fate would you choose: blogger, or citizen journalist?
Read MoreDrill, baby, drill - The NZ Way
As the United States shuts down deepwater oil drilling to get it back under control, New Zealand opens the door. Gerry Brownlee may not get much more mining on the conservation estate, but he can get it off-shore. How good is that?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday June 8
Global markets tumble as G20 dithers and Hungary threatens debt default (+ analysis); Israel rejects Sir Geoffrey Palmer's flotilla inquiry; North Korea reshuffles officials preparing for succession; Germany cuts welfare, jobs and increases taxes; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday June 4
Flotilla activists returned to Turkey; US-Turkey relations harmed by flotilla reaction; Japanese finance minister leading candidate for prime minister; economic ties between US and China further hampered; UN criticises US drone attacks; international call for more EU bank transparency
Read MoreSuperannuation, baby-boomers and why John Key's a wimp
The swarm of locusts that is the baby-boomer generation starts retiring this year, so we can delay no longer. The warnings from Treasury are scarily stark. It's time to grasp the question of retirement
Read MoreOne person's terrorist really is another's freedom fighter
As the propaganda war rages on over the Israeli Defense Forces' botched raid of the humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza, it is time for a few home truths about the seemingly endless search for Middle Eastern peace
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 3
Surprise resignation from Japan's Prime Minister; US-Japan relations unaffected by Hatoyama's move; South Korea's local elections overshadowed by warship sinking; Israel deports aid activists; Karzai peace talks clouded by Taliban attack; BP's market value plunges; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday June 2
Isarel holds activists while UN and EU call for full inquiry into raid on aid flotilla (+ analysis); Japanese PM under pressure to resign; Was South Korean warship sinking part of Kim Jong-Il succession plans?; Al Qaeda's "chief operating officer" believed dead; and more
Read MoreA fascinating Aussie election? Not an oxymoron
Political junkies take note--the leadership battle across the Tasman is about to get really interesting
Read MoreThe International Court of Justice: another whales’ tale
Australia’s ICJ proceedings look like the latest high stakes manoeuvre in a diplomatic poker game with Japanese whalers
Read MoreDown the rabbit hole
"Curiouser and curiouser!" cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English) ... . That little phrase might make an apt replacement for our Supreme Court's current moto, "Tuitui tangata, tuitui korowai".
Read MoreHere comes our “T” Party!
Yes, that’s “T” for Treasury – not Tea, as in the United States. But Treasury secretary John Whitehead’s step into New Zealand post-budget political cauldron could have a similar effect.
Read MoreFacing up to the Burqa ban
Quebec has waded in to the burqa fight, and while the legislation that will lead to a limited ban on full facial covering has been suspiciously suspended, the debate of persecution versus xenophobia rages on.
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