When a pundit says "if this trend continues to the election," stop listening
Read MorePolling trends are bad crystal balls
Seeing the Forest for the Trees
An examination of the strange suggestion, spread by the Green Party, that our native ecosystems are at a greater risk than those of any other country on Earth except for Burma.
Read MoreA bit of shameless self promotion...
We're going to have a constitutional review, with these results. But here's some other thoughts on the matter ...
Read MoreWho was wise this week?
The summer surge of politics continued this week with more big calls being made, especially by National, Labour and the Maori Party. But what do they mean? And where do they lead?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 4
Protesters clash in Cairo for a second day as opposition rejects talks; Cyclone Yasi causes less destruction than expected; 20,000 Yemenis reject president's offer to stand down in two years; Haiti election creates anxiety; Euro countries to announce debt package; and more
Read MoreElection 2011: blue green or true green?
Three parties laid out their wares last week. Nats and Labour gave us a left-right choice: Robin Hood-style tax-grab, or partial SOE sales. Thanks to a tidy paint job, when the ‘Bluegreens’ and Greens offered theirs, the difference was harder to spot, but no less large
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday February 3
Egypt military urges protesters to go home after Mubarak vows not to stand again (+ protest analysis); Obama tells Mubarak to go sooner; Yemeni president promises to stand down in 2013; Queensland takes brunt of storm; China expected to raise interest rates; and more
Read MoreThe buck stops... in Kabul?
The government's decision to keep the SAS in Afghanistan for another year is sound, but its reasoning is gutless. Cabinet needs the courage to own its decision
Read MoreAnd they're off!
We're going to the polls on November 26. Let the law begin!
Read MoreThe Dictator speaks. Will Egypt be Free-gypt?
Mubarak has decided to stare down the demonstrators and the crowds are not happy
Read MoreGame Over Mr Mubarak
As millions of Egyptians make Tahrir Square the epicentre oftheir revolution, their detested old dictator hangs on to power, but the clock is ticking fast and as the tech-savy would tweet to him, "game over".
Read MoreShorter of breath, and one day closer to death …
Nick Smith’s announced that some highly-polluting airsheds will be allowed until 2020 to meet air quality standards, costing something in the region of several hundred lives, but saving jobs — and why I think this is okay
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday February 1
Egypt protest organisers promise tomorrow will see biggest march yet (+ background & analysis); Opposition parties settle on ElBaradei as temporary leader; Burma opens first parliament in 22 years; Japanese power-broker charged with funding fraud; Niger to end military rule; and more
Read MoreI am in blood stepp'd in so far ...
Let's assume the Maori Party really wants Hone Harawira gone. What then?
Read MoreRandom thoughts on a quiet friday ...
I should be working on a learned article that will set the world of legal academia aflame. But it's Friday.
Read MoreBig parties + big week+ state asset sales = big choices
Get your kit off, it's election year and the major parties are putting out already. We have a real choice about our economic future before the summer's over, so it's time to start asking the questions and doing the maths
Read MoreWaste minimisation, writ short
The last New Zealand Waste Strategy had 30 targets. A 2009 discussion document proposed 14. The new strategy has … none
Read MoreTwittering towards democracy - fact or fiction?
A new generation of practical revolutionaries in the Middle East is daring repressive regimes to bow to popular reform rather than resort to brutal crackdowns. They are armed with little more than the power of social media and a belief that the basics in life trump Islamist ideology.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday January 28
Egypt protests continue--four activists killed, up to 1000 arrested; China now willing to 'contain' North Korea, says US; Australia considers temporary tax to help pay for flood reconstruction; Arab protests spread to Yemen; Haitian ruling party withdraws support for its candidate; Sarkozy defends Euro, says he and Merkel would never let it fail; and more
Read MoreFight Obesity – Nationalise the Dairies!
Here's an idea as we go into election year. Instead of part-privatisation of state-owned assets, especially those which generate essentials such as energy, why not nationalise the food outlets?
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