2012 in review: text of my piece for the Resource Management Journal on the changing legal landscape, and writing loudly on the political wall
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World News Brief, Tuesday December 18
Japan's Liberal Democratic Party win election; North Korea commemorates one-year anniversary of Kim Jong-il's death; Taliban target US company in Afghanistan; EU and Singapore sign free trade pact; and more
Read MoreBinnie vs Fisher: the definitive guide
This is the last word on the David Bain case. There will never be, nor need to be, another thing written about it ever again. Do you believe me much?
Read MoreNew Zealand: this is your life
We might have fought over it, at the time. Sometimes, we fought bitterly. At Gallipoli, we lost; but we were on the right side of history, and we found a blood-coloured poppy, like a heartbeat in the dust. Later, it would dawn on us: this is who we are, New Zealand.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday December 14
Japan accuses China of violating its airspace; South Korean elections begin; Indian state of Gujarat holding key elections; Taliban could govern parts of Afghanistan under new peace deal; concerns for Hugo Chavez's health deepen; and more
Read MoreBeneficiary 'impact' highlights poverty of social policies
Auckland's first-ever beneficiary 'impact' demonstrates poverty of policies as well as of people
Read MoreCrowdsourcing the Binnie report (and the Fisher report on the Binnie report ...)
Want to say something about the Binnie Report on David Bain's innocence? Or Robert Fisher's review of that report? Or Judith Collins' handling of the whole matter? Here's your chance.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday December 13
North Korea launches rocket, angering international community; Xi Jingping calls for reform of Communist Party; US formally recognises Syrian opposition; Mali appoints interim prime minister; and more
Read MorePolice poised to push hundreds of firearms into the hands of criminals
The Police have, after intensive lobbying, achieved a law change that could end up putting more guns in the hands of criminals
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 12
New instability threats in Mali; China will surpass US as world's largest economy in 2020s; North Korea fixing technical problems with long-range rocket; Pakistan, Afghanistan and Turkey hold summit; Egypt braces for more violent protests; and more
Read MoreThe return to zero
I have no idea how the David Bain compensation bid is now going to turn out. But I don't see why that should stop me telling you about it
Read MoreCrusher Collins turns her vice on Power & Binnie
Justice Minister Judith Collins' silence on why she had sought a second opinion on the Bain compensation was prompting speculation she was shopping for a verdict. But who knew she's respond like this?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday December 11
Egyptian president Mohammed Morsi gives army power of arrest; North Korea delays rocket launch; Japan's Liberal Democratic Party rules out forming coalition with Democratic Party of Japan; Afghan police chief killed in latest Taliban attack; Hugo Chavez's cancer returns; and more
Read MoreThe art of not predicting politics
Matthew Hooton has done a 180 degree turn on his prediction for the 2014 election. Yet the new prediction seems as risky as the last one
Read More2012 Apocalypse Edition: The Year of the Black Dragon
Political Notes from 2012: o'seas & domestic political rants of a purely existential nature - no strings attached version
Read MoreParliament's 'short term' thinking
Politicians seem to agree that three years is too short... but will anything be done about it now we've got MMP?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday December 7
Egyptian protests turn violent; China warns Vietnam to stop oil exploration in South China Sea; former Thai president faces murder charges; Pakistan Taliban has new leader; Argentina files complaint over US limits on beef and lemon exports; and more
Read MoreSusan Couch's deserved victory
I didn't think Susan Couch would win her battle in court. I'm very glad she hasn't had to.
Read MoreBloggers v Journalists: Why can't we all get along?
In which I get things some off my chest about relations between bloggers and journalists and the coverage of the Labour Party conference
Read MoreWhy we don't need a new party-hopping law
We shouldn't use Brendan Horan's political execution as a reason to reintroduce bad law.
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