As the United States shuts down deepwater oil drilling to get it back under control, New Zealand opens the door. Gerry Brownlee may not get much more mining on the conservation estate, but he can get it off-shore. How good is that?
Read MorePolitics
Superannuation, baby-boomers and why John Key's a wimp
The swarm of locusts that is the baby-boomer generation starts retiring this year, so we can delay no longer. The warnings from Treasury are scarily stark. It's time to grasp the question of retirement
Read MoreA fascinating Aussie election? Not an oxymoron
Political junkies take note--the leadership battle across the Tasman is about to get really interesting
Read MoreThe International Court of Justice: another whales’ tale
Australia’s ICJ proceedings look like the latest high stakes manoeuvre in a diplomatic poker game with Japanese whalers
Read MoreDown the rabbit hole
"Curiouser and curiouser!" cried Alice (she was so much surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English) ... . That little phrase might make an apt replacement for our Supreme Court's current moto, "Tuitui tangata, tuitui korowai".
Read MoreHere comes our “T” Party!
Yes, that’s “T” for Treasury – not Tea, as in the United States. But Treasury secretary John Whitehead’s step into New Zealand post-budget political cauldron could have a similar effect.
Read MoreFacing up to the Burqa ban
Quebec has waded in to the burqa fight, and while the legislation that will lead to a limited ban on full facial covering has been suspiciously suspended, the debate of persecution versus xenophobia rages on.
Read MoreHow Labour might rouse the beast
A well-managed Budget could still cause political problems for National if the Opposition is able to re-connect with New Zealanders who don't usually vote... let alone go to the symphony orchestra
Read MoreNZ's biggest mistakes: because we don't understand 'cause and effect'
A child learns young that if you cry loudly enough, you're more likely to get attention. Do A, and you'll probably get B. So why can't New Zealanders and our governments so incapable of figuring out the same truth?
Read MoreBudget 2010: Solid, Sensible – but Sustainable?
The worst thing about Budget 2010 is that was so predictable. What’s not so predictable is its sustainability
Read MoreKate Wilkinson: Conservation’s lame blue duck?
Notes from Kate Wilkinson’s recent talk to a Christchurch tramping club raise real questions about the job she is doing as conservation minister
Read MoreBill English's smoke and mirrors: when good is bad
The Finance Minister will paint a grim tomorrow of high debt and cumbersome taxes to justify his agenda. The truth is something other, but hey, this year's Budget is taking us right down the rabbit hole
Read MoreA week of apologies
The Prime Minister's sorry, the Rugby Union's sorry, Tuhoe is really sorry, and Tariana Turia is in high dudgeon
Read MoreMokihinui and Stockton: all about the power
State owned enterprises Meridian and Solid Energy have gone feral down on the wild West Coast, where it's every man for himself and his hydro proposal
Read MoreIs Key's cannibal gag his Shrek moment?
Like Helen Clark before him, John Key has stepped into the middle of a Maori process and said, 'this far, no further'. But ignore talk of a "gaffe", this is carefully contrived politics
Read MoreMy virtual rain dance: water for urban gardens
Ratepayers are an easier target for councils than the enterprises making money out of water, and using most of it. It’s ineffectual and unfair, especially for those growing food
Read MoreNice hara-kiri Brownie!
Gordon Brown's falling on his sword after losing the British election may have made life more difficult for the Liberal Democrats as they chose between a party that is more in line politically or the party which won the largest minority. Winston Peters may be finding this awfully familiar
Read MoreDrilling for oil in Taranaki and goss at Paul Holmes' party
How Gerry Brownlee's mining blunder has put Nikki Kaye on the endangered species list and blown a hole in National's blue-green image; and notes from the year's best A-list party
Read MoreFlorida redux?
Could the United Kingdom's 2010 general election become the new Florida?
Read MoreSending the troops is one thing, keeping them there something else altogether
Funny how no-one has picked up on the fact that John Key's decision to consider extending the stay of NZ troops in Afghanistan is in direct contradiction to his own military chief, who says they have things to do back home
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