It's time for a wee change. Taihoa and we'll jump into our new look
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Ghahraman Derangement Syndrome? Here's some baby steps towards recovery
It is just impossible to dismiss the prejudice behind a lot of the criticism targeted at the rookie Green MP
Read MoreThree Christians walk into a bar... and none of them win election
Whether Coalition New Zealand is a Christian party or not (the Tamakis themselves are divided), the idea that they, the New Conservatives, an Alfred Ngaro-led vehicle or any religious party can get into parliament does not stand scrutiny
Read MorePlundering the Planet
Can we consume limited resources forever? Is economic growth just a Ponzi scheme in which we borrow from the future? Is economic growth as we know it coming to an end?
Read MoreFrustrations of an unreconstructed, unrepentant Keynesian
Two weeks out from the Budget, it's a good time to remember what is the means of economic management and what are the true ends
Read MoreWhat Do We Mean by Wellbeing?
The government has promised a ‘wellbeing budget’. No one seems to know what that means. We can set out some preliminary economic understandings.
Read MoreThe Giddens Project: New Times, the Third Way and the future of politics
Across the globe, politics seems to be a battle between strongmen, populists and those eager to make socialism great again. But there is another way. A third way. And it's time not merely to resurrect ideas from the 1990s, but to reimagine them
Read MoreHubbard Bubble: Toil and Trouble
While Chris Lee’s “The Billion Dollar Bonfire: How Allan Hubbard and the Government Destroyed South Canterbury Finance” traces the rise and fall of the finance company, it also provides valuable insights into how the financial system works – or doesnt.
Read MoreDonation, deception and the limits of the law
Faced with substantial costs and waiting lists in fertility clinics, increasing numbers of NZ women are turning to ‘freelance’ sperm donors. Now some of them are complaining about the conduct of one of those donors. But is this a problem the law can fix?
Read MoreReeferedum thoughts
The Government's proposed model for the forthcoming referendum on marijuana legalisation isn't ideal. But the difference between it and the ideal really is pretty minimal.
Read MoreThe mysterious case of the door left open and the disappearing guns
There's no way to guarantee safety in an imperfect world, but you would hope to have confidence in the Police's ability to keep guns under lock and key. It seems not
Read MoreAnother chance to be transformational rejected... Labour's cautious welfare response
Big benefit increases and cutting sanctions have been recommended by the Welfare Expert Advisory Group, yet the Labour-led government has rejected the groups call for urgency. So is it running out of ways to be transformational this term?
Read MoreToo Near a Third Rail?
Traditionally Capital Gains Tax (CGT) has been politically untouchable. What does the handling of the issue tell us about the government’s political skills?
Read MoreThe impossibility of being Simon Bridges
It's not slushies or Judith Collins doing for Simon Bridges. The fact is that he was the longest of long shots when he took the reins and events tell us he'd need a miracle from here
Read MoreAs the bishop said to the minister ...
Brian Tamaki says he just wants to help male prisoners become better men. He's got a funny way of going about achieving that goal.
Read MoreThe Cult of the Generic Manager
Are New Zealand managers good enough; are we relying too much upon them?
Read MoreDoesn't hate-speech need to include some hatred?
Israel Folau's warning to certain sinner is for him an act of love, not hate. So how important is intent when it comes to calling something 'hate speech'?
Read MoreOwning a gun is a privilege: Firearms licences may need better checks & balances
I value the guns I own, but with ownership comes responsibility and it's reasonable to expect licences and those who enfore them to ensure the safety of all New Zealanders
Read MoreA Taxing and Spending Matter.
The Public Finance Act is one of those boring statutes which shapes the nation’s wellbeing.
Read MoreCGT: A bad idea finally put to bed once and for all
Labour came to the only logical conclusion, with a little help from its friends. A Capital Gains Tax was little more than scratching an itch of its voting base, but would have done little for the country and the government
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