The government's laid the table for a growth party, but business is failing to RSVP. So why is National acting as if everything's going to plan? Where's Plan B?
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So long, Seven – It’s been good to know you
TVNZ 7 gave us a glimpse of what a real public television service could be. Our last nationwide, non-commercial TV channel is off the air. Even Kim Dotcom turned out with the thousand Aucklanders who marched to mourn its passing last night. So what’s next?
Read MoreSurplus, what surplus? National's core brand at risk
Some have always reckoned National's target of surplus by 2014-15 was "fairyland", but oh no said John Key and Bill English, don't you worry. Now Alan Bollard has joined the naysayers, National has to realise just what's at stake
Read MoreWinston Peters and his OTHER bottom line
Winston Peters got a weekend of great publicity out of a "bottom line" that is ultimately meaningless. But in the midst another bottom line emerged that may be harder to wriggle out of
Read MoreThe asset sales "trade-off" - a lose-lose
The partial asset sales are a compromise, according to the SOE minister. But why are taxpayers the ones left with the beads and blankets while the other bloke laughs all the way to the bank?
Read MoreTrend: Left turn
Our poll of polls confirms National’s poor showing over the Budget period. Looking ahead, the advantage probably lies with Labour and the Greens
Read MoreNational forgets history lessons in class size debacle
A lack of political memory and of old-fashioned electorate experience are at the heart of National's F-grade performance on education and class sizes. If MPs did their homework they'd start looking, well, closer to home
Read MoreDon't do it Paula: Why Bennett's latest scheme should be removed at birth
Good on the government for its determination to keep having the "uncomfortable conversation" about child abuse. Sad it's not talking much sense
Read MoreDon't look here! Look over there!
What does a government do when people are talking about things that don't suit it? It gives people something else to talk about instead.
Read MoreDoing the Herald editor's job for him
I don't know if the New Zealand Herald editor exercises any oversight over the columns his "opinionators" send to him each week. But I thought I'd do an after-the-fact job on John Roughan's effort on gay adoption that appeared in last Saturday's paper.
Read MoreRemarks on 40 years
I spoke last night to the Values - Green Party party, and book launch. This is, more or less, what I said.
Read MoreBoo for my side. Boo!
Robert Frost once said that "A liberal is a man too broadminded to take his own side in a quarrel." I guess that makes me a liberal.
Read MoreThe Optimist’s Budget
The National-led government has delivered an “Optimist’s Budget” forecasting increased tax revenue, increased spending, and increased debt on its journey to a wafer-thin surplus by June 2015.
Read MoreGDP growth: Further nonsense from government Ministers
The government makes plenty of excuses for New Zealand’s poor recent GDP growth. Unfortunately for its excuses, data exist.
Read MoreWho you gonna call (out)? Bill English or the Greeks?
Budget 2012 lays the ground for the battle of the narratives that will decide Election 2014. Yes siree, the campaign begins now, with the blame game
Read MoreLies, damned lies, and National party spin-doctoring
National says “the economy has grown in ten of the last eleven quarters.” That phrasing is pretty unusual. I wonder why.
Read MoreBang goes another public service TV channel
The Save TVNZ 7 campaign moves into top gear this week – New Zealand loses another public service channel - and Freeview has a rough road ahead.
Read MoreColin Craig explained -- a little John, a little Sir Rob
Colin Craig has been hogging headlines this past week. Many have laughed him off - most notably the PM literally rolled his eyes - but that would be perilous in the extreme. Here's why
Read MoreTeen breeders a national scourge! Time for Mythbusters
So there are all these teen mum banging out babies, right? And it's costing all us taxpayers heaps. It's a modern scandal Something must be done. Now! Well, maybe not...
Read MoreBeyond Today: a values story, and the Greens’ story
Beyond Today: a values story is the Green party’s story. On the Greens’ fortieth birthday, it says Values is a history of which the party should be very proud, and values are the new politics
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