Yesterday was a reminder of just who is in charge. It’s not us.
Read MoreNature and its terrifying power
Integrated schools: the excuses for discrimination are lame
The objections to giving integrated schools the same helping hand as other schools just doesn’t stack up, no matter what your prejudices are.
Read MorePolicies for the Twelve Days of Christmas - Third Way Style. Blog #8
The festive season is a time to reflect on what has been and what might be. Over the 12 days of Christmas, a gift is supposed to be unwrapped each day. Try making those gifts a policy you would like to see in 2020 - it is election year afterall.
Read MoreHey Dad, look what I can do!
So the story about Richie McCaw’s “sacrifices” was dumb, but there’s a certain magic about swimming lessons for working dads.
Read MoreHey bro, luckily I'm not on it because if I had been, I'd have been sacked
Kris Faafoi has joined the long list of Labour MPs whose lack of judgment has hurt this government. He’s survived, ironically, because he didn’t do what he promised. But these lapses are no laughing matter for a lurching Labour Party
Read MoreTurning the NZ First Foundation fiasco back on National is hilarious and sad
For many online, the mysterious activities of the NZ First Foundation raise serious concerns and the National Party must answer them…
Read MoreDemocracy and Referendum
It’s a referendum. Whether or not the End of Life Choice Bill will come into effect or not will be finally decided by the general public in a referendum to be held along with the general election next year. I thoroughly approve of that process, especially as voters will be in no doubt as to what they are approving. There will also be a vote on whether or not to legalise cannabis for recreational purposes. Again a draft Bill will be available.
Read MoreLess haste, more beef, please
Andrew Little’s law change to stop foreign influence in New Zealand elections really won’t do very much. So it probably shouldn’t be raced into law so quickly.
Read MoreWe simply declined your application; we didn't cut off your grant.
Creative New Zealand is ceasing to fund “New Zealand Review of Books: Pukapuka Aotearoa”, our most significant platform for serious book reviewing.
Read MoreThe Neglect, or, the new cosmogony of the Labour government
All cultures and faiths require a creation myth to help make sense of the world. Things are no different for this government and its supporters. Nevertheless, it is fascinating to see how the internal narrative of the sixth Labour government continues to evolve as it is revised.
Read MoreBritain’s Labour Tragedy
Britain wants a revolution, just not Corbyn’s revolution.
Read MoreLabour Conference Delegates - check your hubris at the door
Labour head in to their annual conference this weekend, and their Party members are likely to be feeling pretty confident about their chances of returning to Government in 2020.
However, it would be smart for them to keep their hubris in check by taking a quick trip across the ditch, where the Australian Labor Party (the ALP) thought they would too romp home at their election.
Read MorePrisoner voting ban: not required; not not required
Of all the things we strip away from prisoners during the term of their incarceration, the vote seems like a pretty small thing.
Read MoreThe Capital of Banks
The desire of the Reserve Bank to require trading banks to hold more capital is about potential bank failures and the security of deposits.
Read MoreThe monarchy is illegitimate, so we should keep it
At best, the royal family are out of touch and irrelevant to our concerns. At worst they are, well, much worse than that. But that doesn’t detract from the essential strength of the monarchy. In fact, it kind of underlines it.
Read MoreThe Tragedy of Privatisation
Should business always be run on commercial principles?
Read MoreJacinda Ardern's Crisitunity
The NZ First donations fiasco presents Jacinda Ardern with a real problem - and a serious opportunity.
Read MoreThe NZ First Foundation: a story with no happy ending
Revelations about the funding relationship between the New Zealand First Party and the New Zealand First Foundation suggest that either our election law has been broken, or that law itself is broken and needs fixed.
Read MoreTVNZ and RNZ: A future for public broadcasting
Of the options in currently front of the Minister of Broadcasting, creating a new public broadcasting entity from RNZ and TVNZ is the most interesting. But are we clear on what we mean by public broadcasting? NB. For those following my blogs on the third way - this is not one in the series.
Read MoreWell, that's just, like, your religion, man...
You can’t expect religious New Zealanders to embrace secular government while attacking them for making secular arguments in policy debates.
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