Outside Wellington railway station this morning is a love note to Christchurch. I thought that Christchurch needed to see it.
Read MoreKia kaha, Christchurch
Kyrie, eleison
There isn't much I can say about Christchurch's pain that we don't all know already. So this is a post about something a lot less important - politics.
Read MoreMackenzie developments, and Trust
High country farmers and Ministers are defending private property interests in the Mackenzie Basin, while speaking the language of collaboration and trust — with a capital T
Read MoreObama: all talk and no action on Palestinians' human rights
The United States' veto of a draft resolution condemning Israel's continued illegal settlement construction has exposed the Obama administration of kowtowing to Israeli pressure and thereby paying lip service to human rights in the Middle East. Bad timing big boy.
Read MoreSolid Energy defends its lignite proposals
In which Solid Energy defends its lignite proposals before a Parliamentary select committee, defines sustainability loosely, and fails to define some other things at all, except the megabucks
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 18
Three killed in Bahrain protests as military ordered to "take every measure"; Influential Yemen clerics urge coalition government and free elections; Why there's no turning back in the Middle East; Clinton rebuffed after urging internet freedom in China; Pakistan immunity case delayed; and more
Read MoreWhat does John Key's BMW screw-up remind me of?
Tough as it may be to blame the PM for what looks like an extravagent car upgrade, it's the sort of mud that sticks and recalls another car-related mess and another PM's pleas of ignorance
Read MoreI still choose to lose the way I like
John Key thinks that people using food banks are engaged in a lifestyle choice. So where's the evidence?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday February 17
Pro-democracy protests reach Libya; commentators say Egyptian revolution unlikely to lead to widespread fall of regimes in Arab world; Japan and India sign free trade deal; Japan suspends annual whale hunt in Antarctic due to Sea Shepherd's "harassment"; protests in Bahrain hit day three; US immigration officer killed in Northern Mexico; and more
Read MoreRequiem for Old Man Pine
I plant little trees. My neighbours cut big ones down.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday February 16
Obama's new budget promises trillion dollar cuts as "down payment" (+ White House statement & op-eds); Iran leaders call for execution of protesters; Berlusconi will stand trial for under-ge sex; Philippine peace talks; and more
Read MoreIran's theocracy terrified of democracy... again
Hillary Clinton has called Iran's Mullahs for what they are – hypocrites, as their faux support of the Egyptian revolutionaries has been unmasked for the forked tongued, self-serving garbage that is is
Read MoreWould a poll of any other words smell as sweet?
A dinner-time phone call from a Tory pollster sparks some thoughts about the wording of political questions and the biases that appear between the words
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday February 15
Egyptian protesters return to Tahrir Square as military makes plans (+analysis); Riot police block pro-Egypt protests in Iran; Algeria to end emergency law after 19 years; China's trade surplus drops due to rise in commodity prices; Chinese economy overtakes Japan; and more
Read MoreThe last Pharaoh is gone
Mubarak has finally been forced out of office by the will of the people. Egypt's revolution has triumphed...and while the party will continue for some time, there's a major workload ahead for the military ruling council which is now in charge.
Read MoreWhy the Halberg judges got it wrong
The All White's performance at the World Cup was most certainly not the most excellent sporting achievement of 2010. And God help us if it represents the future of football in this country.
Read MoreMubarak's one-fingered salute
Egypt's old military dictator is trapped in a parallel universe where he thinks he can still reward and punish his own people as if they still fear him, tell them to go home as if they will obey him, and then sic the military on them to break them.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 11
Mubarak refuses to step down despite strikes and international pressure; Doubts over Suez Canal could push up price of oil; Iran opposition leader arrested for planning Egypt-like protests; India and Pakistan to resume peace talks; Chinese hackers and more
Read MoreThe proposed Regulatory Responsibility Bill shouldn't be enacted
Why the Government’s proposed Regulatory Responsibility Bill is ill-founded, constitutionally radical, and likelyto hurt democracy.
Read MoreDavid Cameron's true colours perhaps?
David Cameron has thrown an unnecessary and quite frankly perplexing incendiary into Britain's multicultural conundrum. It is difficult to fathom why he's done it... unless of course he can't wait til the royal wedding for a much needed distraction
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