It was a year of much effort but little reward for Labour and the Greens (and the Progressives). So was it a year wasted, another step towards oblivion? Or was vital groundwork laid?
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Sunday Star Times Loses Its Memory
In taking a whack at Maggie Barry's putting her hand up for the National Party's Botany candidacy, and almost every other journalist who's had a go in Parliament, the Sunday Star-Times editorial gives a once-over-lightly dismissal of some of the world's great leaders.
Read MoreBrownlee’s bucket list
Energy and Resources Minister Gerry Brownlee, and his colleagues, have work to do, according to an offshore petroleum environmental assessment, showing big gaps and serious risks in our regulatory practice
Read MorePalin takes the shootin' spotlight
As American mourns yet another appalling shooting, Sarah Palin shoots from the lip - again - reconfirming she would be incapable of presiding over a presidential podium.
Read MoreHave a Big Day Out on us
Free stuff--Win two tickets to the Big Day Out with Pundit
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 14
Lebanese government collapses after Hezbollah withdraw support; Qatar and Saudi Arabia work on compromise between Lebanese factions; US will defer to Japan on plans to relocate American air base; record floods devastate Queensland; Joe Biden visits Iraq; violence in Tunisia worsens and curfew set in Tunis; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday January 13
Hezbollah to resign from Lebanon government over Hariri assassination investigation (+ analysis & background); North and South Korea pick up the phone for first time in eight months; Haiti: one year on; High turnout in Sudan poll; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday January 12
Clinton heads to Yemen in secret trip (+ analysis); Brisbane evacuation as flood waters rise in Queensland; Afghan reconstruction boss resigns amidst incompetence claims; Pressure for Portugal bailout grows as Euro bank intervenes; and more
Read More2010: Minor government parties pay the price
What was 2010 like for the smaller parties propping up this government? Not a lot of fun, really. Big holes were exposed in ACT, the Maori Party and United Future, which raise even bigger questions
Read MorePCE and Groser: fix the ETS
In which expert advisory work from the PCE illustrates why the ETS in its present form risks a massive lignite subsidy, and Tim Groser — quite rightly — observes that this would be “ridiculous” and “incoherent”
Read MoreApres nous, le deluge
We may not have a National-led Government after the next election. Here's why we probably will.
Read More2010: A political year of half-measures
The government ended the year on the political mountain top thanks to a lot of luck and bucket full of caution... And my belated pick for minister of the year
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 7
US commission blames management at three companies for Gulf oil spill (+ analysis and timeline); South Korea rejects North's offer of talks; al-Sadr returns to Iraq after three years in exile; Republicans take over US Congress promising budget cuts; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday January 6
Pakistan governor Salman Taseer killed; member of Taseer's security detail responsible; US envoy will head to China for talks on North Korea's nuclear programme; Queensland flooding impact is huge--disruption of coal exports means loss of AU$100 million a day; Gbagbo to end military blockade; and more
Read MoreCalifornia goes back to the future
California has never been in bigger fiscal trouble. So who do voters choose as their new governor? Jerry Brown, aka 'Governor Moonbeam', the budget-conscious pol who was their governor 28 years ago
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday January 5
Iran invites diplomats to tour nuclear facilities--US not part of group; US wants more talks with North Korea; China ups nuclear power capabilities; three quarters of Queensland's coal fields closed due to flooding; Washington downplays turmoil in Pakistan; Republicans plan congressional investigations; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday January 4
Pakistan government loses coalition member and parliamentary majority as economy outewighs terrorism (+ Af-Pak analysis); US and Japan considered action against anti-whalers Sea Shepherd – Wikileaks; Coptic Christians protest after Egyptian bomb kills 21; Cote d'Ivoire negotiations; Brazil's first woman president takes office; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 29
Putin critic and oligarch convicted, drawing US condemnation and tipping Putin's return to power(+ analysis and Russia backgrounder); Double bombing in Iraq kills 17; African leaders tell Gbagbo to stand aside; South Korea president urges unity; and more
Read MorePeace to the Earth... maybe
We go into Christmas with the promise of fewer nukes, but threats of nuclear war being tossed around... and merry Christmas from Pundit
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday December 24
South Korea concludes biggest military drill in its history, preparing "merciless counter-attack" (+ analysis); Pakistan says no to US ops in tribal border regions; Russia looks to approve START; Israel military leader says war with Hamas inevitable; and more
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