New Zealanders have been asked to think about our constitution - what it is that makes us or, as one judge described it, “the mirror of a nation’s soul”
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World News Brief, Tuesday June 18
Syria to top G8 conference agenda; North Korea proposes nuclear talks with Washington; Chinese newspaper says deporting Edward Snowden to the US would be a "face-losing outcome"; Czech premier resigns amid scandal; five Turkish unions to join in anti-government protests; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday June 14
93,000 killed in Syria since start of civil war, says UN; Edward Snowden tells Chinese newspaper that US has been hacking into Chinese computers for years; Mugabe fast-tracks electoral change; Putin announces new electoral party in Russia; and more
Read MoreNew Zealand's story: our shared story?
Steven Joyce’s Budget 2013 announcement says that his ‘New Zealand Story’ project will be all about innovation and resourcefulness, our Maori heritage, and a ‘welcoming, friendly’ approach. I think the Emperor has no clothes, and it's about time somebody said so
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 13
G8 protests overshadow London summit; Korean talks cancelled over delegate disputes; Japan and Britain expected to forge defense intelligence-sharing agreement; reformist candidate drops out of Iran's presidential race; Sudan blocks flow of oil to South; and more
Read MoreEd Snowden could come to NZ
The latest leaker superstar, Ed Snowden could end up flatting with Dotcom in New Zealand says international lawyer Geoffrey Robertson. That's one way to reverse the brain drain
Read MoreSolid Lessons
Finance minister Bill English is arguing that we shouldn't second guess business decisions made by Solid Energy. His argument happens to be a convenient way to get him off the hook for government failings
World News Brief, Wednesday June 12
Turkish riot police fire tear gas and water cannons at protesters; Taiwan to meet with China; Vietnamese PM wins support of less than half of parliament in confidence vote; Mandela still in hospital; Pakistan claims India entered its airspace; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday June 11
NSA leaks source hiding out in Hong Kong; Obama and Xi Jingping end two-day meeting; South and North Korea to hold talks in Seoul; US to consider shipping arms to Syrian rebels; UK anticipates challenges at G8 meeting; and more
Read MorePeter Dunne - what happens next?
Act One of Peter Dunne's departure has come to an end. What does Act Two hold in store?
Read MoreChi mi a-rithist thu, Iain
Iain Banks has passed away. He hasn't gone to a better place - he's just dead.
Read MoreIt's Something in the Water
How can we move forward with the fluoridation debate? Hamilton City Council has an obligation to show that its decision will not cause harm
Read MoreWhat the daft fluoride decision says about a Kiwi culture shift
Hamilton councillors are just the latest folk to fall prey to fear-raising arguments against 'mass medication' and in favour of individual choice, while ignoring science. What's going on?
Read MoreOn Edwards, Ralston & Drinnan on Shane Taurima and why they're wrong
It's very hard to draw black and white lines around political interviewing in this country and in these times... but it's easy to get it wrong when you weren't in the room, and that's the trap Msrs Edwards, Ralston and Drinnan have fallen into
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday June 7
North and South Korea agree to meet; radioactive leak discovered in Fukushima Plant; Karzai invites new Pakistan PM to Afghanistan; IMF admits mistakesin Greece bailout; and more
Read MoreA tale of two Speakers
David Carter's decision on Peter Dunne's status was just as wrong (and as right) as Jonathan Hunt's decision on Harry Duynhoven's.
Read MoreFamily Care Payments a Bureaucratic Merry-Go-Round
A mother explains why the Ministry of Health's base model for caring for the disabled is based on factual error and discrimination.
Read MoreOh my ... I do declare all this nastiness is giving me a case of the vapours!
Russel Norman dared to (gasp!) compare John Key's approach to politics with that of Robert Muldoon! Have you ever heard anything so outrageous (since the exact same comparison was made in relation to Helen Clark)?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 6
Syrian army has taken control of strategic town of Qusayr; Malaysia calls for South China Sea development; violent clashes in Burma have spread to Malaysia; Turkish deputy PM apologises for crackdown on protesters; drone strikes must end, says new Pakistan PM; and more
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World News Brief, Wednesday June 5
UN finds evidence of chemical weapon use in Syria; protesters to pack Tienanmen Square vigil in Hong Kong; poultry factory fire in China kills 19; Afghan army colonel arrested for transferring prisoners to man accused of torture and killings; senior Indian lawmaker calls for change of attitude towards Pakistan; and more
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