What the start of the Labour leadership campaign tells us about the candidates...
Read MoreThe Inquiry into the Inquiry into the Inquiry into the Inquiry
How it all came to pass
Read MoreSilence of the lambs: freedom of speech in New Zealand
A steady erosion of human rights in New Zealand through legislation is being accompanied by Ministerial attempts to avoid searching scrutiny of these measures, and to silence dissenting voices.
Read MoreLabour needs more than a new leader - it needs change
David Shearer was elected leader of the Labour party because he had an outstanding leadership record outside parliament and he represented a chance for Labour to make a new beginning.
He never found a way to show us his skills and he never created the new beginning Labour needs.
Read MoreDavid Shearer goes ... who next for Labour?
The five key points to consider when choosing the next Labour leader
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 22
Syrian activists say government launched gas attack; Bo Xilai's trial begins in eastern China; Japanese PM to tour Middle East; China and Kenya sign $5 billion in deals; third bailout for Greece; and more
Read MoreMiranda 'rights' in Britain
Britain's intimidation of the Guardian newspaper, and its detention of a Brazilian national under a terrorism provision serve as warning for what governments with dirty secrets are prepared to do. Complacency will enable them.
Read MoreThe GCSB Bill and press freedom
With a few exceptions, much of the GCSB media coverage has been superficial, and complicit in personal attacks and dismissive denials. Media had a vital role to play in answering the many questions around this Bill, and failed.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 21
Pakistan's Musharraf indicted on murder charges; Bo Xilai's son speaks out in defence of his father; China says it is prepared to defend its territorial rights; Muslim Brotherhood leader arrested in Egypt; Boko Haram leader may be dead; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday August 20
Egyptian military to release Mubarak; South Korea and US begin annual military drills; Japanese and Russian foreign ministers meet to discuss territorial dispute; Hamid Karzai sacks attorney general; UN arrives in Syria; and more
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John Key and those GCSB questions
I confess: The GCSB bill has me going back and forth. So after considering the politics played by the PM this week I lay out my main qualms about the bill and seek your advice...
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday August 16
Egypt declares state of emergency; China calls in Japanese ambassador; North and South Korea should hold reunions for families separated by war, says Park Geun-hye; UN heads to Syria; new Paraguayan president takes power; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 14
Keita wins Mali election; South Korean and Russian officials meet to discuss denuclearising North Korea; Pakistan PM urges new beginning with India; US embassies across Middle East and North Africa reopen; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday August 13
Israel names 26 Palestinian prisoners to be freed; Cambodia upholds election results; Japan's economy expands for third consecutive quarter; Mugabe makes first post-election speech; Britain may take legal action against Spain over Gibraltar
Read MoreThe secret behind the housing debate -- and 3 ideas
We're going to need just about every one of the housing policies being thrown around at the moment because any big fix is going to be down to lots of small change... and it's going nuts out there
Read MoreSecond thoughts on Tiwai Pt – wrong deal, wrong time
I tried showing a little sympathy for Bill English last week. That'll teach me. The Tiwai Pt deal has fewer reedeming features that I dared hope and may make little difference to the Meridian float
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday August 9
Obama cancels meeting with Putin following Edward Snowden controversy; Japan summons Chinese envoy after Chinese ships entered Japanese disputed territorial waters; Japan launches its largest warship since World War II; India-Pakistan relations fray further; Syrian rebels claim to have hit President Bashar al-Assad's motorcade; and more
Read MoreTiwai Pt - just more expedience and poor dealing
The Tiwai Point subsidy buys time, but ultimately is just the latest in a series of deals by governments of different strips that sees the taxpayers stumping up for political reasons. Will it ever end?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday August 8
Tunisians gather to protest transitional government; anti-government protestors in Thailand rally against amnesty bill; North Korea proposes another round of talks with South Korea; Yemen foils al-Qaeda plot; Mexico launches energy reform; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday August 7
Taliban hold secret talks with Hamid Karzai; China's foreign minister finishes Southeast Asia tour; Japanese prime minister vows to pursue world without nuclear arms; US and Britain withdraw government and diplomatic personnel from Yemen; US evaluating whether Obama will attend Russian summit in wake of Snowden decision; and more
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