The Regulations Review Committee thinks the Government is using the Canterbury Earthquake Response and Recovery Act appropriately. This is good news.
Read MoreThe ashes downstream of Pike River
The metaphorical Pike River post-mortem has started, without waiting for the Royal Commission and others’ findings, in some defiance of the truth, and the incendiary risks
Read MoreIncreased childcare costs reveal National's soft underbelly
Labour is going after National on early childhood education costs, and for once actually has the politics on its side and the government on the ropes
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday December 1
US insists Wikileaks won't harm diplomacy, yet other countries expected to clam up; Markets driven by Euro fears; Obama proposes Muldoon-like pay freeze for public sector; South Korea cancels military drill; and more
Read MoreFall-out from the Leak-Fairy
Those embarrassed by the torrent of Wikileaks documents claim the whistle-blowing site is endangering lives. But the threat in this historian's dream trove of information is really to the reputations of politicians and diplomats, and their secretive, opaque, patronising modus operandi
Read MoreDeepwater oil on Nature’s Coast
Two offshore spills in less than a month – but
World News Brief, Tuesday November 30
Wikileaks cables style Putin an "alpha dog", Karzai as paranoid and Merkel as risk averse (+ analysis); Portugal reaching crisis point as Ireland bailout fails to convince; North Korea to pay "a dear price"; Iranian nuclear scientist dies in bombing that echoes January death;
Read MoreIt's the South, stupid... geographical dyslexia Palin-style
Another botched foray into international affairs sees Sarah Palin mistakes North Korea as America's ally. A little 'refudiation' is required just days after Barbara Bush suggested it would be best for the beautiful Sarah to stay in Alaska.
Read MoreSubtle dangers in Paula Rebstock's sugar coated poison
The government Welfare Working Group's 'Options Paper' was released this afternoon. While Paula Rebstock says nothing is decided yet, its overall direction confirms my earlier fears. It could make the 1991 benefit cuts look like a picnic
Read MoreSmall is beautiful: economy of resources, and the politics of enough
Economy, by definition, means prudently managing resources, yet in practice growth consumes them, unsustainably. We need a new narrative, say the Greens, that decouples progress from growth: this might be a myth and it is a gamble, but so is growth
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday November 24
North Korea attacks South Korea--two marines killed; New York Times reports new nuclear facility in North Korea; some experts speculate Kim Jong-Un is trying to win support from the army by showing toughness; Australia to supply Japan with minerals known as 'rare earths'; Iran assembly tries to oust Ahmadinejad; Taliban leader in secret talks was imposter; Cowan responds to calls for snap election in Ireland
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday November 23
Ireland accepts EU bailout of both banks and government (+ analysis); As NZ waits, China rescues 29 trapped miners of its own; Obama tells Karzai to pull his head in as NATo commits until 2014; Abbas blames Isreal ahead of peace talks; and more
Read MoreMana from Matt & Loves Labour’s Lost
The Mana by-election was Labour's pre-campaign test. It flunked
Read MoreThe torturer's horse scratches its innocent behind on a tree
Even though more important things are happening on the Mainland, Parliament is displaying its worst and best qualities this week.
Read MoreThe Spirit Level reaches NZ - why freedom and equality are kin
In which I'm perplexed why people are so afraid of equality and compassion, and reflect on freedom and the filthy rich Westpac CEO, all because I've finally got around to reading The Spirit Level
Read MoreThoughts on Green growth, from a gardener
Among the many things people don’t get about the Greens and the green movement is -- it’s organic. This is not just a nice conceit. Greens live and breathe above and below ground, which makes them resilient
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday November 19
First Guantanamo detainee tried in US courts guilty on just one count (+ analysis); Ireland looks set to accept bailout worth "tens of billions"; UN warns of world food shortages, higher prices; China re-routes global internet traffic for 18 minutes; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday November 18
Republicans threaten to block nuclear treaty despite White House pleas (+ Clinton & Gates op-ed); China promises fire safety standards after 53 die in Shanghai; NATO leader talks of Afghanistan combat role beyond 2014; Iraq President refuses to execute Tariq; and more
Read MoreDavid Cunliffe: a political vision?
David Cunliffe offers personal observations from the Greens’ economic conference, on how to do good — “to do good, first we must win” — and possibly, also on how to win
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday November 17
Pressure grows on Ireland and Portugal to accept bailout (+ Euro analysis); US plans military campaign in Yemen; Suu Kyi seeks to reinstate political party; Mullah Omar rejects Afghan peace talks with "puppets"; and more
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