The report on the failings of the life insurance industry raises the wider issue of how we regulate markets throughout the economy.
Read MoreIs the state of the union strong? We are about to find out
Donald Trump is being backed into a corner politically and legally, with the Mueller investigation expected soon. How far will he go and can America's famed checks and balances withstand the coming storm?
Read MoreAnalysing the Internal Politics of Brexit
The theories one uses needs to be explicit, especially when the issue is as complicated as Brexit or Trump.
Read MoreWhy is New Zealand silent on Venezuela?
Some seem keen to ignore the chaos on Venezuela, not least because Donald Trump has taken a stance against the dictator Nicolo Maduro. But that's a mistake and New Zealand's silence only lines us up again alongside Putin's Russia
Read MorePolitical Flapdoodles and Crises.
This column is not about the Government successes nor the Opposition failures. Its purpose is to learn from the various flapdoodles, some of which are significant, some of which are trivial.
Read MoreThe Art of the Deal
What advice does Trump’s book give to the current President of the United Sates?
Read MoreThe ocean is not enough, Mr Wilson
Simon Wilson has had another tilt in today's Herald at sparking debate about a focal point for Auckland's waterfront (hint: it's not a stadium). I like his thinking, but reckon he's got one significant detail wrong
Read MorePeople of the same trade seldom meet together ... but the conversation ends in a conspiracy
If New Zealand's largest street gangs were to ever think about merging forces, it isn't the police they need to worry about. It's those bad hombres at the Commerce Commission ... .
Read MoreHow Neoliberal is the Government?
The Ardern-Peters Government appears to be comfortable with neoliberalism. Is that because it does not know of any alternative?
Read MoreWhen Will the Next Financial Crisis Happen?
If improved financial regulations wont prevent crashes, what is the point of them?
Read MoreDemocracy is Not Just Voting
The Way the Voting is Organised Matters Too.
Read MoreHeart of Darkness in the public sector
The extent of spying by several public sector agencies goes to a worrying lack of public service at the heart of our public service
Read MoreThe Census Flop
We have known since last May that the March 2018 Population Census is badly flawed. Does it matter? What can be done?
Read MoreThe Unprepared
That our bureaucrats failed to be prepared for a new government, is an indication of deeper problems.
Read MoreProtecting the umpire
Did you know that Parliament could imprison you for saying that Trevor Mallard is biased in favour of Jacinda Ardern over Simon Bridges? But it (almost certainly) won't.
Read MoreGavin Hawthorn: send him to (drug) court, but not to prison
Since Gavin Hawthorn was sent to prison for ten years in 2003, over 5,000 people have died on New Zealand roads - at an average of 360 a year. That's almost one a day. Commentators calling for him to be sent to prison again are missing the point.
Read MoreCan we save the planet without a revolution?
The short answer is no; the long answer requires an explanation of what form that revolution will take.
Read MoreBrexit or Bust?
Brexit illustrates the challenges of economic independence and interdependence.
Read MoreThe Fourth Freedom
We need to rethink our strategy towards migrants.
Read MoreEvery election is determined by the people who show up
It seems NZ referenda are a bit like Wellington buses - you wait ages for one to come along, and then three arrive all at once.
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