Politics
ACT leader David Seymour spoke of generational change in his state of the nation speech. Yet this government is built more for tweaking than transformation, so what’s a determined change-maker to do?
As politicans break for the year, the clock is still ticking on the government’s 100 Day Plan. So what’s it delivered so far? And what’s it taught us about the new coalition?
Chris Hipkins needs a new song and dance routine and fast, or he could be doing the limbo and losing the next generation of Labour's leaders
Multiple polls point to a change of government. Is National passing the sniff test? Do voters really want ACT's 'real change' or a handbrake? The Caucus podcast ask what a centre-right government might look like
Grant Robertson hopes the promise of no recession and falling inflation is what voters really, really want to hear right now, more than grandiose new policies. But he’s keeps headroom for election promises
Meka Whaitiri’s switch from Labour to Te Pāti Māori raises questions about whose mana is being enhanced - not by the decision itself but how it’s being done. What thought has she given to her public duties as an MP?
When is a cabinet minister not a cabinet minister? The faulty logic of Stuart Nash has landed him and Labour in a heap of trouble but opened the door to serious reform of the Official Information Act
Chris Hipkins has shown himself to be a quick fix guy in his time as Prime Minister. So why didn’t he take the path of least resistance and sack Stuart Nash? How does that compare to Rob Campbell? And what does it tell us about this year’s election?
The terrible damage of Cyclone Gabrielle has the potential to up-end election year just as it has up-ended so many lives. For National it brings danger (enter Maureen Pugh), for the Greens, opportunity
The problems inherent in the failed RNZ-TVNZ merger go way back. Bad policy was finished off by bad politics, writes a former Broadcasting Minister
At Chris Hipkins’ first post-cabinet press conference as PM we got introduced to the new language of Chipp-ese. So reading between the lines, what did his words really mean?
Christopher Luxon’s description of New Zealand as “a little experiment” prompts questions about the story tell ourselves about our country… and some other history he needs to factcheck
As ‘Chippy’ the new Prime Minister is sworn in today he has the chance to reset his party and its chances at this October’s election. So what arrows does he have in his quiver? Two stand out…
Jacinda Ardern’s has announced her resignation ahead of this year’s election. So how will New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister be remembered? What’s her legacy amidst years of crisis?
Two years into the pandemic, 2022 has become our true ‘Year of Covid’ and as we crawl towards Christmas, the disease isn’t letting go of us… or the government
Sam Uffindell’s confession to being a bully is admirable, but it creates some major political problems for National and will raise questions for victims of bullying, including me
Jacinda Ardern has turned necessity into an opportunity, as she starts to reset the look of Labour’s leadership for a new chapter. Her biggest weaknesses are dealt with as she looks for more from new faces
New Zealand’s approach to Covid can be boiled down to: Buy time. And it’s worked. But now it’s time to change tactics and execute the plan much, much better
Loud and angry protests against vaccine ‘mandates’, lockdowns and other Covid-restrictions continue here in New Zealand and around the world. It’s framed as a fight for freedom. It’s not. Rather, it’s a battle against consequences. So here’s my response to the ‘freedom fighters’, anti-vaxxers and all those nervous about the loss of freedoms during this pandemic
Christopher Luxon spent his first, impressive appearance as National Party leader stressing his newness to politics and his leadership pedigree. But are both traits quite the strengths he thinks they are?
Picnics have come to symbolise many things about life in Auckland right now - they are a blessing and a curse, a political masterstroke and a retreat. Now they need to be the start of something more
Looking back to this point in the last political cycle, you see Labour tearing itself apart and fighting for the future of the party. National is facing the same crisis, but no-one seems to want to lead
The way we’ve implemented our Covid-19 strategy has come at a high price for a lot of New Zealanders… so are we doing enough now to say thanks and show kindness to Kiwis trapped offshore? And what more could we do?
Heading into another level four lockdown with delta finally loose in the community, it looks like our luck might have run out. But maybe not. Maybe this will be the lucky lockdown; the kick up the bum this country needs
Labour’s Covid-19 response is losing its sense of urgency, something that’s becoming increasingly clear in the vaccination rollout, testing, immigration and much more
Join the dots from 1991 to election night 2020 to today… This is the day that Grant Robertson and Jacinda Ardern entered politics to deliver
Nanaia Mahuta’s speech on China used some pretty plain language, but the words that resonated were not just about our largest trading partner. Others about some of our oldest allies were just as controversial
During lockdown last year we cycled pretty fast through bingeing Tiger King, sourdough starters, and Zoom drinks. One year one from the first recorded COVID case in NZ, it shouldn’t be surprise the original messaging is getting stale.
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
Nicola Willis delivered exactly what she promised at Election 2023 (more or less). But with the election in the rearview mirror, voters may be in for a less careful Willis in the years ahead as she promises cuts will be “business as usual”