Who knows whether John Banks will be found guilty next year, only the courts can decide. But in the court of public opinion, a trial is as bad as a conviction
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday December 4
Anti-government protestors storm Thai PM's compound; Biden works to ease tensions between Japan and China; Kim Jong-un fires his uncle and has two of his aides executed; poverty facilitates return of polygamy in Kazakhstan; number of US banks falls to record low; and more
Read MoreNext year's public law exam question is here somewhere ...
Three important public law developments fell on the one day. That makes posting a bit of a challenge!
Read MoreOrganise to Win
Of six by-elections since 2008, only one, Mt Albert, looks anything like Christchurch East in the scale of the Labour result.
It's no coincidence those two seats had similar results: They were planned and run on the same organisational template. None of the other by-elections were.
Read MoreDeal or no deal II: The economic arguments aren't all pro-oil
Is this government's commitment to oil a bit like investing big in New Zealand Post? And what will our children make of the choices we're making now?
Read MorePalestinians pay for Iran deal
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has been knocked back into his place by the world's most powerful countries.... including his key friend the US, so what does he do? He takes out his anger on the Palestinians of course
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday November 28
US ignores China's new airspace defense zone; Thai protests extend beyond Bangkok; Germans agree on "grand coalition" government; Microsift to ramp up encryption efforts to stop NSA intercepting traffic; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday November 27
Japan-China air zone rift deepens; China to place limits on interbank lending; Scottish government publishes blueprint for achieving independence; France to send troops to Central African Republic; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday November 26
Iran deal draws mixed reactions; Japan and China in airspace dispute; protesters march through Bangkok demanding PM's resignation; Egypt passes law to regulate protests; Swiss vote against executive pay cap; and more
Read MoreDeal or no deal? New Zealand's oil & gas choice offers great risk & reward
The drilling and the protesting has begun... But amongst all the rhetoric, scaremongering and promises of outrageous fortune, lies a prety simple question we should all be asking
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday November 22
France urges West to stand firm on Iran's nuclear programme; Australia-Indonesia spying row continues; elderly US tourist detained in North Korea; US and Afghanistan reach security agreement; fracking approved in Botswana but not used; and more
Read MoreNew boundaries = new strategies for major parties
One new seat added in Auckland. But that single proposed seat has ramifications that will ripple across the city with some surprising winners and losers
Read MoreNow in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams
Alan Titford's feet of clay have been shown to all the world. But could he have been Northland's mayor?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday November 20
Iranian diplomat killed in twin suicide bombings in Beirut; bad loans at Chinese banks have tripled in past six years; Philippines rebuild could cost $5.8 billion; Al Shabab bombs Somali police station; Russian judge releases Brazilian Greenpeace activist; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday November 19
Putin says there is a "real chance" to end standoff over Iran's nuclear programme; Philippines corruption concerns magnified by typhoon; Australian spies have reportedly targeted phones of top Indonesian officials; US-funded clinic in Kabul to close; Boeing books $100 millions in orders; and more
Read MoreFacing up to climate reality: Lessons from Haiyan & Yeb Sano
When Russel Norman repeated in parliament the words of a Filipino climate negotiator there were howls of outrage, but we listen to the pleas to end the madness we will only see more devastation
Read MoreThe status quo is not a neutral position
David Farrar is very angry that a political party is unilaterally trying to game electoral law for its own benefit. It's good to see him being so critical of National's behaviour with respect to the reform of MMP.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday November 15
Kurdish Democratic Union Party form autonomous government; Japan's growth slows; survey finds most Africans believe their governments are losing fight against corruption; Obamacare uptake is slow; and more
Read MoreThat's the past – a little bit the same, but mostly different
In which I respond to Andrew's post responding to Claire column and add my thoughts on how history repeats... or not
Read MoreIt was different then, and that's all in the past
It would be a brave person to say that they think they know what the 2014 election will deliver. Apparently, Claire Robinson is very, very brave.
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