Most New Zealanders think they've seen the back of legal highs (outside the black market), but the fact is they will be back one day... but the politics is fascinating
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World News Brief, Friday April 10
Iraqi troops launch offensive to free Anbar province; North Korea fires missiles ahead of US defense chief arrival in Seoul; China gains land through island-building in South China Sea; Norway to boost power investment in Africa; new evidence of atrocities in Ukraine; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 9
US accelerating arms shipments to Gulf coalition; US-Japan alliance shifts; Thailand and Russia to boost cooperation on drug trafficking, investment and energy sector; Mugabe visits South Africa; new bank in India to regulate microfinance lenders and help small businesses; and more
Read MoreAre you a digital journalist who gives a damn?
The Press Council wants you. Well, if you're an online journalist and know a thing or two
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday April 8
UN Security Council demands humanitarian access to refugee camp in Syria; explosions at Chinese chemical plant injure 14; Malaysia passes bill to allow suspected terrorists to be detained for up to two years without legal representation; Boko Haram storms village; Rand Paul to run for US President; and more
Read MoreGreenhouse gases and growing pains
Economic productivity and population growth have impacted New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions
Read MoreStrong New Zealand dollar doesn't mean strong New Zealand economy; it just means our interest rates are higher
What we are witnessing is an old fashioned ideological debate, dressed up as economics.
The high dollar and its causes suit people who have a lot of New Zealand-denominated wealth; a lower dollar is better for producers - people who use capital to earn money.
Read MoreSlavery in New Zealand
How come we tolerated such appalling working conditions for so long? (And a tick for crusading journalism.)
Read MoreStep One on the path to a historic nuclear deal for Iran
Iran has promised to abide by the rules as world powers begin the next stage of stripping its path to a nuclear weapon. In return the crippling economic sanctions which brought Iran to the table will go. At this point there is good cause for optimism, albeit of the trust but verify kind. Only an idiot would prefer War over Jaw.
Read MoreThe lark's on the wing; The snail's on the thorn
The Planet Key song and video can be watched, played on the radio and shown on TV without any restrictions at all. It's great that a judge has been able to make the law say what it should do.
Read MoreJudgment day for Planet Key (the song, that is)
We're finally going to find out if we need to change how our election laws limit satirical speech ... after the period for submitting to Parliament on our election laws has ended.
Read MoreBloody Bureaucrats
Are we paying enough attention to bureaucracy? Are the current bureaucratic pressures changing the nature of society -- and are they doing so for the public good?
Read MoreWhy having no retrial for Teina Pora matters
The Privy Council says that Teina Pora should not face another trial. Now we can get on with trying to make some reparation for the wrong we did to him.
Read MoreFilling the void left by Winston (until he comes back again)
What happens when (or if) Winston quits Parliament before he is declared the member for Northland? Nothing very much at all.
Read MoreFortune cookies for all parties in Northland
The loudest message went to National. The loudest clap was for Winston (not NZ First). But each party can take fortune cookies from the result in Northland this weekend.
First National. The secret of John Key's Teflon popularity; 'don’t be what we know you really are - Tories.' When National inhabits the centre ground, and behaves like a Labour-lite government, they're hard to beat.
After the rain has fallen: What does Northland mean?
Is the Northland by-election pothole just a flat tyre for National or is it a sign this political vehicle is running out of gas? Here are two things to keep an eye on once Winston's tempest has passed
Read MoreIs Parliament about to drop our commitment to the Rule of Law?
Parliament seems about to drop New Zealand's commitment to the rule of law from the Act underpinning the judicial branch. Retiring Supreme Court judge (and former Solicitor-General) John McGrath thinks that's worrying. He's right. There's still time to lobby the Minister of Justice.
Read MoreTime To Rejoyce? A Northland perspective
A denizen of the Far North observes who got things right – and who got things very wrong – in the by-election
Read MoreA post-Northland mea culpa
Goddam it - Winston Peters went and made a complete fool out of me. Did he have to do it so publicly?
Read MoreThe Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement.
Perhaps New Zealand’s acceptance of the TPPA will depend upon the outcome of the Northland by-election
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