Shane Jones wouldn’t be quitting if he thought he was going to be in government next year. His resignation is a very clear warning bell; Labour cannot win if it loses people like Shane Jones and voters who support him.
Read MoreCoalitionally speaking – a look at scenarios on the right
The ins and outs of possible coalitions on the left are far more absorbing, but Alex asked for it... so here's my humble take on some of the coalition issues facing the right (and a sneaky mention of Shane Jones)
Read MoreHere we may see what Men for Stealth and Robbing must endure ...
A peripheral group of political zealots want to introduce the UK's approach to punishing burglary into NZ. Except they don't really want to do that at all.
Read MoreGreens: Everywhere they look, Peters is there
As the polls stand, all roads to a change of government lead through New Zealand First. And that makes the Greens little more than by-standers
Read MoreOur future lies in science
New Zealand loses focus on science to its detriment, and the world's
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 17
Tensions rise in Ukraine; Chinese economy slows; rescue efforts continue for passengers of South Korean ferry; Syrian opposition obtain US weapons; Boko Haram seizes 200 girls from Nigerian school; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 15
Worst climate change consequences can be averted, says international panel; avian flu outbreak in Japan leads to chicken cull; Pakistani Taliban factions agree ot one-month cease fire; Guinea-Bissau heads to the polls; and more
Read MoreIsrael's fear of Palestinian sports people
The banning of Palestine's only Olympian from running in the Palestinian Marathon is very revealing about Israel's disingenuous attitude towards any peaceful relationship with the people it keeps under illegal occupation.
Read MoreLabour does not need to promise a coalition with the Greens
The Greens were getting ahead of themselves with their offer to Labour to campaign as a coalition government in waiting, and Labour was right to reject the offer.
Read MoreQuestion time with Simon Bridges
The transcript of Wednesday's question time in the House is not yet available via Hansard. Fortunately, I am able to roughly recreate it below (with some possible inaccuracies, although minor in nature).
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday April 10
Indonesia counts votes in parliamentary election; Japan and US trade officials meet; 24 killed in Islamabad shopping mall terror attack; new French PM passes confidence vote; and more
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday April 9
Ukraine expels pro-Russian separatists from government building in Kharkiv; Hagel warns China against making unilateral moves that could escalate tensions in Asia Pacific; Australia signs pact to free up trade with South Korea; and more
Read MoreIdentity politics and secession booted out of Quebec
This week's Quebec election has dashed the dreams of the sovereigntists and unceremoniously routed the incumbent party for its disingenuous attempts to attack immigrants under the guise of equality through a strange interpretation of secularism.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday April 8
India begins five-week elections process; Japan and Australia close to signing bi-lateral trade deal; US defense secretary tours China's first aircraft carrier; Nigeria becomes Africa's largest economy; UN expresses concern over violence in Venezuela; and more
Read MoreNothing except a battle lost can be half as melancholy as a battle won
John Banks will have a full trial on the charge that he knowingly filed a false donation declaration after his 2010 Auckland mayoral election defeat. That's not that surprising.
Read MoreNational’s muddled message on economy could help Labour
Open letter to David Farrar on his erroneous Kiwiblog post re Countdown
Over at Kiwiblog David Farrar has had a crack at TV3 for the work done by the team at The Nation on the supermarket story. I lead that team and on several points Farrar is plain wrong and on other points is misleading. So here's my reply
Read MoreThis is not a news story
Just because there aren't any important developments in the search for MH370 does not mean that the media should go out and invent "news" about it. Or, not everything Peter Jackson does deserves to be reported on.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday April 2
John Kerry and Benjamin Netanyahu meet in attempt to salvage Israeli-Palestinian peace talks; US accuses China of "provocation" in South China Sea; pro-government majority expected in Thailand's Senate election; and more
Read MoreFrom a certain point onward there is no longer any turning back
Teina Pora is out of jail at last. Just how is it that he's spent more than half his life in there?
Read More