The Auditor General has found that Murray McCully (and the rest of his National Party cabinet colleagues) are not corrupt criminals. They just entered into a deal with a Saudi businessman without really knowing why, what that deal would do, or the basis for giving him some $11 million or our money.
Read MoreWho Was Accountable for the Shambles?
A novel about an historical event reminds us of the health redisorganisation of the 1990s, raising issues remaining relevant to today.
Read MoreBill English admits his Government is a 'moral and fiscal failure'
New Zealand has fallen prey to penal populism: our prison population is at an all time high – driven by victims rights groups and the public's moral panic over violent crime
Read MoreSing me to sleep
The real scandal isn't that the Police set up a (probably) illegal drink driving checkpoint to get the names of elderly people interested in exercising control over the circumstances of their own death. It's that our law doesn't allow such people an option without having the Police stick their noses in to it.
Read MoreCan Te Awamutu Have its Own Independent Central Bank?
Pretending it can, or that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand can function independently from the rest of the world, could generate a financial crash.
Read MorePolitics ... coming soon to a screen near you
The Court of Appeal's decision on the Planet Key's legal status means that we are likely to see and hear a lot more political advertising. And it also renders the Government's just announced reforms of party political broadcasts completely out of date.
Read MoreThe Nobel for Economics?
What does the latest Economics Prize in honour of Alfred Nobel tell us about economics as a science?
Read MoreWhy do the write thing?
The reasons Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Andrew Butler give for their constitution-writing project are not convincing.
Read MoreDo We Need Poverty Targets?
No, but we need to address poverty. Focusing on poverty targets which are not to be achieved in the time of the government which sets them is wasting energy and opportunity.
Read MoreLessons from the weekend of politics
A few takeaways from the local body elections, including lessons for Labour and National and the start of 'The Phil & Bill Show'. Whoooo will win?
Read MoreDesmond Tutu on end of life choice
Desmond Tutu, archbishop emeritus of Cape Town and a Nobel Peace laureate, has some thoughts on a person's right to dignity at the end of life that are worth considering.
Read MoreEarning it: The Swarbrick lesson 2016
In which a late night twitter discussion rammed home the importance of candidates having to 'earn it' and the media's coverage of "foregone conclusions" is defended
Read MoreThe Over-Representation of Maori in the Criminal Justice System.
A report explains why: small but accumulating biases together on top of adverse early-life social and environmental conditions.
Read MoreHobson's Choice trumps Hobson's Pledge
Brash is back and so we have to explain again why his argument is built on rubbish and rubble. And we can do it with his own words.
Read MoreHobson's Choice trumps Hobson's Pledge
Brash is back and so we have to explain again why his argument is built on rubbish and rubble
Read MoreRethinking Trade Policy.
We don’t need to refresh trade policy; we need to rethink how best to engage with the world in the context of increasing globalisation.
Read MoreQuick - to the validating machine!
The Department of Corrections was doing what the courts told it was the law. The courts were wrong about that, so now the Department of Corrections owes prisoners compensation. That's exactly how our law is supposed to work.
Read MoreShut up, Stuart Nash (with added thoughts on the Nikolas Delegat case)
Stuart Nash is trying to make political hay out of Nikolas Delegat's crime and punishment. The problem is, in doing so he's calling for the undermining of New Zealand's constitutional arrangements. That's ... not a good thing.
Read MoreOn the socially contextual nature of treating voters
Meng Foon's giving $20 to a long-time acquaintance is about respect, not corruption.
Read MoreDeveloping Our Understanding of Poverty
Last week’s report on wellbeing and the household income distribution told us some new things. Are we listening?
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