Inspired by the rash of speculation this week, I figured it's time I gave people a chance to make fun of me a year or two from now by giving my take on where we stand ahead of next year's election
Read MoreOn coming first, yet losing
John Key is claiming that the party with the most seats after the next election has a "moral mandate" to govern. Well, you would expect him to think that, wouldn't you?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday July 3
India rejects Edward Snowden's asylum request as he waits in Moscow airport; protesters in Hong Kong demand universal suffrage; North Korean foreign minister says high-level nuclear talks should be held "without preconditions"; Morsi rejects army ultimatum; Greek bailout threatened by lack of progress; and more
Read MoreSpying - everybody's doin' it, doin' it
We're learning this week just how common it is for countries to be spying on each other. Sir Geoffrey Palmer hinted last year that those in high power are quite aware of this
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday July 2
Egyptians throng streets demanding Morsi's resignation; John Kerry urges ASEAN nations to ease tensions in South China Sea; Japan, US and South Korea to boost trilateral cooperation in curbing North Korea's nuclear programme; Croatia joins the EU; and more
Read MoreAfter Ikaroa-Rawhiti - everyone has something to worry about
Mana and the Maori party must now co-operate or perish. All parties, including Labour should be worried about the low turnout - where's the mood for change? National is losing coalition partners at an alarming rate. But the big question - will the Maori Party survive? Does it deserve to?
Read MoreAnd the winner of the Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election is ... Winston Peters?
The Ikaroa-Rāwhiti by-election result is bad news for the Maori Party. That's good news for Winston Peters and New Zealand First.
Read MoreIs Shearer Gillard-esque? And if so, who's our Rudd?
No points if you guess the answer - it's pretty obvious. The real question is if and when the electoral maths could compell New Zealand Labour to follow the same path
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday June 28
Spending cuts agreed in EU budget; US ambassador to China makes Tibet visit; South Korea and China meet to discuss North Korea's nuclear programme; Obama calls for gay rights during visit to Senegal; US begins shipping arms for Syrian rebels; and more
Read MoreHow much is that MP in the window?
Sue Kedgley worries that there is nothing to stop our MPs selling themselves to the highest bidder. There is - so they'll have to do it quietly.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 27
Kevin Rudd takes back leadership of Australia; riots in China kill 27; Syria death toll reaches 100,000; Obama pushes for action on global warming; and more
Read MoreNational gets on track - and lands decisive political blow
The buzz is that National is about to back Auckland's CBD rail loop. And before you think the government's changed its roading stripes, let's consider the politics behind this
Read MoreTwo days in Transit...so far
After two days of wondering where in the world Eddie was, Vladimir Putin fessed up to his being in the transit lounge of a Russian airport, and, much to the annoyance of the Americans, the elusive Mr Snowden is free to go whenever he likes.
Read MoreSchrödinger's Parliament
Apparently UnitedFuture is no longer a party recognised for parliamentary purposes because doing so would cause too much trouble.
Read MoreThe Greens have done the right thing
The greens are right to back down on QE. Their critics on the left are wrong to make QE a symbol of progressive orthodoxy.
Read More"The ref's a moron!"
The NZRFU's code of conduct requires that players "never argue with the referee. Control your temper at all times." Peter Dunne could learn from it.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday June 20
Afghanistan suspends security talks with US; North Korea and China hold talks; Edward Snowden would not get preferential treatment if he applied for asylum in Hong Kong, says UN official; Obama to announce sharp reduction in nuclear warheads; IMF says Spain needs labour reform to reduce "unacceptably high" level of unemployment; and more
Read MoreThe Environment Court, and the one percent
The court with “the potential to affect New Zealanders’ day-to-day quality of life more than any other court in the judicial system” is on the ropes. The RMLA speaks out
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday June 19
Demonstrators protest government corruption and police violence in Brazil; Russia and Japan agree to future talks; China starts trading carbon dioxide permits; deadly blast marks Afghan security handover; Obama appoints official to lead Guantanamo closure; and more
Read MoreNature's rights ... left far behind
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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