The 2007 law change prohibiting parents from hitting their children is being quoted as an example of frustration of the popular will by Parliament. But was it?
Read MoreNational's final asset sale justification is proved false
Research by the Greens into just who bought the Mighty River Power shares show that those Mum and Dad investors were more like 'Mummy and Daddy dahling' investors
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday May 24
Obama to restrict use of unmanned drone strikes following civilian deaths; Asian markets tumble after Chinese economic data released; political tensions rise in Malaysia; car bomb kills 12 in Pakistan; Iran advances nuclear programme; and more
Read MoreMore bad process - is this the new National normal?
A week of poor process continues for the government as it side-steps consultation with its decision to approve mining on the Denniston Plateau
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday May 22
Iraq could plunge into sectarian war; Chinese president Xi Jinping meets with Obama; seven Muslims sentenced to jail for killing Buddhist monk in Burma; Pakistan's new PM wants to have talks with Taliban; Ireland denies helping Apple save billions in taxes; and more
Read MoreGovernment or playground bully?
Increasingly, our Government is behaving like a playground bully. If Ministers will not restrain themselves from abuses of power, others need to stand up and speak out
Read MoreKicking the tyres from beneath New Zealand
Government's gathering pace, in a way that ought to give us all serious pause - because it rips apart more than our constitutional fabric.
Read MoreI think National just broke our constitution
Our constitutional arrangements work on an implicit bargain - the principle of comity - that the Courts and Parliament don't mess with each other's turf. I think that bargain just got broken.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday May 17
Turkey's PM Erdogan meets with Obama to discuss Syria; Taiwan rejects apology from Philippines for death of coastguard; Japan willing to meet with North Korea; Nigeria declares state of emergency; Eurozone sinks deeper into recession; and more
Read MoreGovernment thinks growth needs to slow down?!
One take out from today’s budget says it all.
Read More15 things you need to know about Syria
Since Bosnia and Rwanda, it's been clear that the international community disgraces itself when it stands by and let's blood flow at the hands of murderous state thugs. Here are the arguments for and against intervention in Syria. You decide.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday May 16
US diplomat to be expelled from Russia on suspicion of spying; Philippine government apologises for Taiwanese fisherman's death; Japanese PM refuses to comment on envoy's surprise trip to North Korea; three coalition troops killed in Afghanistan; UN General Assembly approves resolution for political transition in Syria; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday May 15
Obama and Cameron support international conference on Syria; Chinese tour company offers North Korea day trips for Westerners; Australian budget projects deficit of AUD$19.4 billion; European retailers agree to support improved safety measures in Bangladesh garment factories; South African platinum miners go on strike after union leader killed; and more
Read MoreStop wasting our time
The National Government isn't going to bother even thinking about the Electoral Commission's recommendations to reform MMP. I wish that they'd told us this was the plan before we spent our time and effort engaging with the issue.
Read MoreStare decisis
Now that we're in the business of guaranteeing winners by making public policy in their favour, the sky is the limit.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday May 14
Nawaz Sharif looks set to lead Pakistan; US and South Korea conduct joint naval exercise, provoke North Korea; Chinese authorities investigate corruption charges against top economic planning official; Taliban to release Turkish hostages; Cameron and Obama to meet; and more
Read MoreThose who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it
The Crown won't be able to change Sky City's gambling concessions without paying for it. But it isn't the Crown that would do so.
Read MoreHousing affordability is about inequality
Increasing the supply of housing is only part of the solution. Demand needs to be shored up. That means changing incentives so that wage earners can compete with investors.
Read MoreGilmore game about numbers, not lies
John Key now has no choice but to act on Aaron Gilmore, but at the same time has to protect is narrow majority in parliament. Someone has to hatch a deal
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday May 10
Son of former Pakistani PM kidnapped; tensions between China and Japan heightened; Asian economies prepare for regional free-trade agreement; Mexico proposes bank reform to make loans cheaper; Israel approves new settlements near Ramallah; and more
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