Napier’s tragic siege will accelerate the provision of tasers to all frontline police. Whanganui can now ban gang patches in public. But why are tougher firearms controls so hard?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday May 14
Over a million refugee as fighting continues in Swat; South China Sea islands up for grabs; Bank of England's growth forecast; South Korea's $10b for greentech; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday May 13
America's top military commander in Afghanistan sacked: ops out of control; can the Afghanistan war be won?; foreign firms to list on Chinese sharemarket; Israel calls for peace but not two states; and more
Read MoreGive us a fair go, Simon Power
The Justice Minister last week tried to tell the United Nations what a 'fair go' means in this country. He failed miserably
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday May 12
Pope arrives in Israel calling for two-state solution; Next week's Obama-Netanyahu talks previewed; Japanese Opposition leader resigns; hundreds of thousands flee Swat Valley; and more
Read MoreKilling sacred cows
Vegetarians and vegans have taken the moral high ground, but think again - in a fossil-fuel challenged world, animals need to be part of the food chain.
Read MoreLabour's links to Police, Hager exposed!
Don Brash might dream that Helen Clark hacked his computer, leaked the contents to Nicky Hager, forced the High Court to allow his book to be published, and then oversaw the police investigation which kept her role secret. The truth is more prosaic
Read MoreOn a wing and no prayer—at least not in public
President Obama has decided public prayer is not for him, stirring an unholy row with the Republican right. Meanwhile, the news delivers excellent examples of the dangers of mixing Church and State
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday May 8
"Health test" for US banks; North Korea speeds construction of missile test site; trilateral meeting "mostly symbolic; DRC cuts deal with rebels in Eastern Congo; and more
Read MoreWhere has all the money gone?
According to the Electoral Commission, the political parties received far less in big donations for the 2008 election than in 2005. So just how did they fund their campaigns?
Read MoreWell, there goes the neighbourhood
The government is to give the Auckland suburb of Tamaki an extreme makeover, but is it all good news for the folks who live there, or band-aid politics?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday May 7
Trilateral summit; China military drill; NATO exercises begin in Georgia; Baghdad explosion kills 10; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday May 6
Georgian soliders mutiny as tension with Russia escalates; Chinese kicks out Mexicans; South Korean economy rebounds; Pakistan-Taliban truce seems close to collapse; and more
Read MoreMt Albert – the nearest place to Hell
At the best of times, by-elections are never pretty. These are not the best of times, and
The frugal elitist
When the going gets tough, the tough go to the mall and drink coffee
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday May 5
Just how buggered is Europe?; Asian giants rally round $120 billion fund; North Koreans threaten war. Again; Nepalese PM quits; Panama turns right after election
Read MorePurchase advisers: new dogs or old tricks?
National's decision to hire "purchase advisers" is another nail in the coffin of a neutral public service. Or is it?
Read MoreNational and the art of managing expectations
Pundit's latest poll of polls shows National cruising on a flat sea of likeability, overseas issues and carefully crafted PR. Even the 'dissent' is perfectly scripted
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday May 1
WHO says "community outbreaks" imminent while Mexico closes offices; How much will the pandemic cost?; Japanese economy shows 'green shoots' of recovery; Britain leaves Iraq; and more
Read MoreTrust the media. No, really
An attempt to promote an old-fashioned idea: that being a journalist is a good thing
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