National's campaign strategy is starting to look shakey, and it's as much to do with the economy and discipline as Dirty Politics
Read MoreJohn Key
In defence of Kiwiblog
Not all blogs are the same. Not all bloggers are bad. David Farrar hasn't done anything wrong.
Read MoreActually, it's not OK
For me, it comes down to the downloading and whether a refusal to even ask the question is good enough for someone sworn to protect and serve the public good
Read MoreCri du cœur
The point of Dirty Politics isn't (just) about what happens in September. Or, what Danyl Mclauchlan said, with more quotes.
Read MoreDirty Politics: The battle of the metaphors
There's lots of stuff we know and lots we don't know following the latest round of Dirty Politics interviews... Here's my take on what we know so far and what it means
Read MoreThe politics of vilification
The specifics in the Hagar book are devastating. To focus on them, the left should take Nicky Hager’s advice and avoid the politics of vilification.
Read MoreA crazy day in dirty ol' NZ politics
Dirty Politics could have the unintended consequence of harming all New Zealand politicians... and the Prime Minister's terrible stand-up
Read MoreWhat does Labour do now?
First, stop blaming the media.
Read MoreMate, has Winston put the Conservatives in check?
Winston Peters has just moved his King to East Coast Bays and put Labour and the Greens' capital gains tax pawns under threat...proof that New Zealand First is still a player
Read MoreAstride the eagle & dragon: John Key's Pacific paradox
As John Key re-writes the script for relations between New Zealand and the US, what are the implications for China and does this mean a return to automatic support for America?
Read MoreAcronyms and secret handshakes no way to sell a trade deal
When it comes to signing trade deals there are two principles which should never be up for negotiation; the net benefit to your country has to outweigh any concessions, otherwise what’s the point? And you never trade away fundamentals, like the right to legislate to protect your environment, the health of your citizens, or your education system.
Dirty deal dancing - when Colin finally meets Key
Colin Craig has given up. Kind of. But by conceeding he can only win a seat with a deal, he's put the onus firmly on National and made John Key an offer the PM can hardly afford to refuse
Read MoreHere’s what to do about inequality
If a large majority of us are worried about inequality and National is making the problem worse, not better, why isn’t the Left doing better politically?
That's the price I pay for hating Key the way that I do
If you'll excuse the paraphrasing of Billy Bragg, it seems appropriate as the left leave the moral high ground for a bit of electoral mud-wrestling and coat-tailing. But at what cost?
Read MoreA taxonomy of scandal
A scandal can be distinguished from a controversy. Immigration policy became controversial in the 90s, the foreshore and seabed in the 2000s. Even though there were bungles, and offensive views and policies were aired, the underlying issue was always sharp disagreement over core values and policies.
In a scandal, the underlying issue is wrong-doing.
Read MoreWhy the Collins case is about then, not now
The timelines are damning, the hits this week revealing. But in the end none of it matters, because it all comes back to that dinner and what we knew months ago
Read MoreIt is the evil things that we shall be fighting against ... and against them I am certain that the right will prevail
Judith Collins wants to go to war with the media. That probably is ... not wise.
Read MoreNational’s muddled message on economy could help Labour
How the left could still win
I wrote a column in the National Business Review this weekend, and it’s driving right-wingers there nuts.
The takeaway from Judith's Chinese dinner
While Judith Collins was in China, she perhaps should have read some Sun Tzu: “If ignorant both of your enemy and yourself, you are certain to be in peril.”
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