On Wednesday I argued that New Zealand should fix the general election date in law. Here's how it could be done.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday July 16
BP well test delayed when leak found in line; BP could be banned from obtaining further offshore US drilling leases for seven years; China's economic growth slows; UN Command and North Korea meet about sunken South Korean warship; Argentina legalises same-sex marriage; and more
Read MoreJust dirty, not sexy: lignite to liquid fuel
Coal-to-liquid fuel feasibility studies are underway for lignite, the dirtiest coal, as the coal industry tries to dig itself out of a hole
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday July 15
Nuclear scientist heading back to Iran, hurting US intelligence (+ analysis); Israel resumes demolitions in East Jerusalem; Japanese PM gets reprieve in latest polls; How do you define a terrorist? Petraeus weighs in; and more
Read MoreJohn Key to announce the election date soon - I hope
New Zealand should fix its election date in law. Otherwise, John Key needs to tell us when the 2011 election will be held ... and soon.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday July 14
Iranian nuclear scientist takes refuge in embassy – was he kidnapped or not?; BP successfully caps oil well; Kampala bombing signals the spread of Al Qaeda tactics; Chinese employers having to compete for workers; and more
Read MoreDragging Iran out of the Stone-Age
Global condemnation may have forced Iran to abandon plans to stone to death a woman 'convicted' of adultery, but don't count on it. The campaign to fight Sakineh Ashtiani's execution needs more recruits - now!
Read MoreOMGlee!
Does Glee’s swag of Emmy nominations make me any less tragic?
Read MoreAuckland mayoral race - room for one more?
As the field widens, a serious new candidate for the Auckland mayoralty may just be the ticket. But whether it's Brown, Banks or Candidate C, the result's likely to come down to just one thing, and it's got nothing to do with policy
Read MoreBut the time would have passed anyway
A stage full of actors at the height of their powers--what could be better? A review of Sean Matthias' production of Waiting for Godot
Read MoreVote! Kean for Columbia
New Zealand's main political websites are joining together, asking you to support an up and coming young journo. Who says we can't agree on anything?
Read MorePoll of Polls - Welcome Back, pollster
Recent events have caused the government's popularity to increase, and Labour's popularity to fall. These short-term moves mask a longer period of consolidation that also helps the government.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday July 13
Somalia militants claim responsibility for Ugandan bombing that killed 64; Japan sees another government toppling, PM vulnerable; Russia warns Iran is going nuclear; violence returns to Darfur; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday July 9
Suspected terrorists arrested in Norway and Germany, foiling subway-style bombing; East Timor "open" to Australia's for refugee detention centre; Church convinces Cuba to release a third of all political prisoners; US agencies to have access to European bank data; and more
Read MoreThere ain't no party like a JK party 'cause a JK party don't stop ...
In which the author tries his hand at satire. Results most definitely not guaranteed.
Read MoreHas Obama indulged in nuclear hypocrisy for Middle East peace?
Obama and Netanyahu met (again) and managed a pretty good rendition of calm and purposeful intent. But Obama's two goals--a nuclear-free world and a peaceful Middle East--increasingly appear to be political pocket lint trapped in his extremely smart suits
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday July 8
Obama comes up with timetable for Middle East peace negotiations; Netanyahu will give Palestinian Authority security forces more control over parts of West Bank; China will not dump US debt; Japan fights for role in civil nuclear sector; Sarkozy faces campaign funding scandal; and more
Read MoreWill National take a bullet for gun control?
The government's announcement of tougher penalties for knife crimes is a preamble to the bigger, harder issue – gun control. Will it have the courage to tackle our gun culture in this political climate? And what about online sales?
Read MoreGrass stains on the Mackenzie, part II: tenure review
In which policy makers try to grow the economic cake, but end up eating it instead, leaving us with some little brown crumbs …
Read MoreGrass stains on the Mackenzie, part I
Intensive farming development of the Mackenzie district is a failure of law and policy, and ecological disaster on a colonial scale
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