We opted out of Australia in the 1890s, and although some at the time hoped we'd have another chance at Australasian union, that was our one and only shot. Our distinctive New Zealand voice is now pulling us further away from our neighbours than ever before
After we released the UMR poll results on Q+A this past Sunday, New Zealand's been having a ding-dong go over the question of whether we should become the seventh state of Australia.
The man who has the Prime Minister's ear has quietly but forcefully defended climate scientists and thrown down the guantlet to the skeptics
A few weeks ago an article by the Prime Minister's Chief Science Adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman appeared on his website. No fanfare accompanied its unveiling and it was little noted, but it was another robust public statement as science seeks to recover its poise on climate change after the expose of the IPCC's errors.
For every tilt to the right, the government has a counter-balancing move to the centre. Whether that's due to mixed-up ideology or the height of political pragmatism, this is a National government a long way from the party of Richardson, Shipley and Brash
The howls of outrage are starting to be heard around Auckland as its citizens start sensing that they're being stitched up by some old-fashioned right wing ideology.
It's a childish practice that's all too common in New Zealand newsrooms and if we cared more about our professionalism and our audiences, it'd stop
I was at a journalist's get together recently, and promised to write this post to a group of senior journalists who were fed up with a tradition in New Zealand media that is far from world best practice. You couldn't get away with it in the US or Britain, but it's common practice here. And at the grassroots, many journalists have had enough.
Sterilsation is again being recommended as a solution to bad parenting. It's obscene, stupid and is another stigma attached to struggling parents by those devoid of compassion
It's an endlessly hideous and stupid suggestion, one that recalls the worst abuses of state power, yet it somehow seems to be acceptable as part of our public debate. That's right, I'm talking about paying "bad parents" to be sterilised.
You can argue 'til the cows come home about the rights and wrongs of Phil Heatley's resignation, but at the end of the day it's the perception of meanness that people will remember
So, where do you stand on Phil Heatley? Such are the range of positions being staked out around the country regarding his resignation as minister, you could call this "The Heatley Question".
MMP could have been overwhelmed by nay-sayers, but Simon Power's process will make for a fairer referendum, mimicing Jim Bolger in the 1990s
Well, National has done it again.
There's no scandal in the PM's uranium shares, but there is an opportunity for John Key to mine the politics of the situation by providing an example to New Zealanders on ethical investing
As Fran O'Sullivan has written in today's New Zealand Herald, it's remarkable that Prime Minister John Key had a bunch of mining shares in his own name, rather than in his blind Aldgate trust.
Key's likeability is about to be tested as he tells voters that GST is on the rise. At last parliament has something tangible to get its teeth into
You could see it in Phil Goff's face... "at last", it seemed to say. At last the Opposition has something to kick against. At last the government is spending some political capital, venturing into political realms that will upset some of those who voted for National in 2008.
Seeing the tino rangatiratanga flag flying over prominent New Zealand landmarks will swell the pride of many Maori. But should a flag representing only one people only fly from government buildings? Is it exclusive? And what does it stand for?
Today, anyone strolling around Wellington or driving across Auckland will notice a new flag flying from prominent landmarks. Despite it being our national day, it will not be our national flag. Should that vex us?
