Phil Goff has been in court and on the ropes over his false claims to have banned two alt right speakers from Council venues last year, but now John Tamihere has gone and shot himself in the foot. Again
Read MorePhil Goff
Who do we think we are? The free speech debate
Debating the rights and wrongs of rights starts with the acknowledgement there is no right and wrong... so where do you draw the line?
Read MoreFreedom of speech means what we want it to mean
In New Zealand, freedom of speech doesn't have to be, and currently isn't, exclusively concerned with preventing the state from punishing people for speech. Nevertheless, people sometimes claim that freedom of speech has to take on that narrow meaning.
Read MoreSouthern and Molyneux: hard questions and no easy answers
As a society, must we let obnoxious provocateurs have a public stage? How do we decide when others must bear the burden of their speech?
Read More"Wellington, this is Auckland calling. Let us out of this maze"
Auckland is like a rat in a maze of the National government's making. But Phil Goff is determined to find his own way out... and he just might be about to find a door
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 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 MoreNo Victoria, the machines aren’t taking our jobs
Camp Goff: old news, new tactics
Phil Goff's latest lift of his skirt reveals nothing new about his mayoral ambitions, but something more about his thinking and tactics
Read MoreSuccess - everyone equally unhappy
TPP can help lift incomes in New Zealand but to make a difference for people, there’s a lot more work still to do.
John Key: The buck doesn't stop with me
The Gwyn reports reveals much about the failings of the SIS, but it and the government's response to it also reveals much about the political machinations of this Prime Minister
Read MoreWhat Labour forgot: You've got to earn it
Whether or not Labour changes its leader, the MPs gathered in Wellington today need to stop blaming everyone else and take a long, hard look at themselves
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.
Warning to Labour; the heretic hunters are driving people away
Shane Jones wouldn’t be quitting if he thought he was going to be in government next year. His resignation is a very clear warning bell; Labour cannot win if it loses people like Shane Jones and voters who support him.
Read MoreMOM … Show me the money!
John Key’s hottest line from the last election campaign could come back to haunt him as he ploughs ahead with the expansion of the “Mixed Ownership Model” by selling shares in a batch of state-owned assets.
Read MoreLabour's leader: TV, weaknesses & the Obama factor
The battle for the Labour leadership was first waged in caucus (Shearer), then on TV (Cunliffe). This week it moves to the regions as remains tight. So who does John Key fear most? And why do I keep thinking of Obama & Clinton?
Read MoreHe's Goff and he's off -- so who's next?
So the names for the Labour leadership are now in the hat. The caucus has a decent buffet to choose from, but need to remember it's not all about them
Read MoreThe big wheels are turning to National - my last day summary
Only hours to go, so let's take a run through all the parties and see where we stand. You've got to say, there are a lot of known unknowns
Read MoreClever politics leave voters in a vacuum
Fear and greed may be the motivating emotions in the market place, but information is the life-blood of democracy. The voters of 2011 need a transfusion before they visit the polling booth on Saturday.
Read MoreFinal TV One leaders' debate - my first impressions
Phil Goff took over as interviewer at times and generated the news headlines in tonight's final TV debate. But a measured John Key stood firm and calm as he rammed home his anti-debt message
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