There’s an existing legal power to make people self-isolate. Failing to comply with such a requirement can attract reasonably severe sanctions. Why, then, do we not start hanging some more admirals pour encourager les autres?
Read MoreWe Must Avoid Treating Māori As Living Fossils.
There are times when tikanga needs to be broken for tikanga to survive.
Read MoreThe law of diminishing Covid returns: The government's mood management task
If you were out and about in Auckland this weekend, you would have seen the level 2 is almost non-existent now. It’s further proof Labour faces a challenge this year in managing the public mood
Read MoreBarbarians at the Library Gates
The burning of books has a long history. That it no reason why we should add to it.
Read MoreThe Sources of House Price Inflation.
Building more houses is not going to reduce house prices much (although it will help more people to be decently housed). The inflation driver is financial speculation based on leveraged borrowing. Until that is addressed, house prices will continue to boom.
Read MoreAre We in for a Meltdown as We Tackle Climate Change?
Does it make sense to compare our climate change adaptation with Rogernomics?
Read MoreIs the King Above the Law?
While many readers will say ‘the king is certainly not above the law’, not everyone believes that, especially if they are in power.
Read MoreAn island never cries
Putting those who are entering New Zealand in downtown hotels doesn’t seem to be furthering our “elimination strategy”. Is there somewhere else we could try?
Read MoreHow is the Economy Doing?
The Treasury forecasts suggest the economy is doing better than expected after the Covid Shock.
Read MoreJoe Biden inauguration: The pendulum has swung, but how far?
Joe Biden gave a message of unity in his inauguration speech and his swearing in shows a pendulum swing in US politics back to the establishment. But what does that mean?
Read MoreOpening Pandora’s American Box
All nations have shadows; some acknowledge them. For others they shape their image in uncomfortable ways.
Read MoreTrump Impeachment II: Hat tip to history or something more?
Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment could be merely a note to later historians as to how awful this term has been or it could be the start of healing. But either way, Trump’s place in history will now largely be decided by Joe Biden
Read MoreA New World Order?
Does the US need to strike a grand bargain with like-minded countries to pool their efforts? What does this tell us about today’s global politics?
Read MoreThe madness of King Trump
Howl, howl, howl, howl. As rioters storm the Capitol, we see the madness at the heart of the Donald Trump era. He is now Shakespeare’s King Lear - raging but impotent as America turns the page
Read MoreAfter Brexit?
Beethoven is a New Zealander
The National Library is still disposing books from the nation’s heritage.
Read MoreDesigning For End Users.
Far too often designers forget the purpose of the exercise is to communicate.
Read MoreRedisorganising the Health System – yet again.
Implementing the New Zealand Health and Disability System review not only involves major technical problems but creates fascinating political tensions.
Read MoreNot every wrong has a remedy (in court, anyway)
Disappointed supporters of legalising cannabis are asking the High Court to void the recent referendum result. They aren’t going to succeed, and probably shouldn’t even try to do so.
Read MoreThe Kafkaesque nature of the WorkSafe charges against GNS Science
WorkSafe has charged the Government’s volcano watchdog, GNS Science, as one of the thirteen parties in relation to the Whakaari/White Island eruption. We don’t yet know why. But can they really be guilty of not sciencing properly?
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