US airports start screening passengers for Ebola; US and Japan plan more defense cooperation; Thai PM travels to Burma on first official foreign visit; new Palestinian unity government to hold first meeting; and more
Read MoreWhat economic resilience looks like
Unusually for small, advanced countries New Zealand remains heavily reliant on agricultural for its living. So is it time to take a bigger punt on technology?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday October 9
US increases air strikes on Syrian town of Kobani; Hong Kong government and protest leaders to meet; Australian PM Tony Abbott seeks to legislate against 'preachers of hate'; Ebola unavoidable in Europe; Canadian military to head to Iraq; and more
Read MoreThis too shall pass: Removing the right to think
As if banning same-sex marriage isn't enough, the Presbyterian Church has gone a step further and removed the clergy's liberty of conscience on the issue
Read MoreThe case for (and against) Nicky Hager
Some muted thoughts on the legal issues involved in the search of Nicky Hager's house, with only limited added outrage. That may come later.
Read MoreHone's last stand
Hone Harawira is seeking judicial recount of votes that he doesn't think will change the result in Te Tai Tokerau, and which won't be able to look at the problems he claims existed with voting in that seat. This seems ... misguided.
Read MoreParty renewal: National's success, Labour's failing
If National can adapt to change, why can't Labour?
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday October 7
Brazil's most contested leadership race in decades not over yet; Hong Kong protester numbers dwindle; North Korean officials visit South Korea; Australia and Belgium conduct first anti-ISIS missions in Iraq; mass grave uncovered in Mexico; and more
Read MoreThe fat lady's final notes
The final count of the votes, including special votes, has saved us from having to revisit our ideas about majority governments under MMP. Oh - and I (sort of) told you so.
Read MoreThe shape of the new government - who gets what
A glimpse behind the door of supply and confidence negotiations reveals the dominant political fact this term - Key is King
Read MoreDitch the fan ban
Rather than trying to rein in dissent, the Labour Party should be encouraging a full and frank debate on not just its leadership, but its deep-seated structural problems. Attempts to chill open criticism are misguided
Read MoreThe big kahunas - facing up to NZ's top economic challenges
Brian Easton's post this week raise questions about the serious and long-term issues facing not only this new government, but several to come. Can a consensus be achieved?
Read MoreReview: "The Bone Clocks"
David Mitchell's latest work, The Bone Clocks, is a great read. I'm just not sure it's a very good book.
Read MoreWhat Labour needs to hear: the 4th voice
Who will determine Labour's future – the MPs, the members, the unions? The fact is that after a 24 percent election result they are the wrong people to listen to and the truth may be every hard to hear
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday October 1
Afghanistan and US sign security deal; Hong Kong stock market falls in reaction to protests; South Korea proposes 500 percent import tariff on rice to protect local farmers; 12 killed in Ukraine despite ceasefire; Iran 'most dangerous country in world', says Netanyahu; and more
Read MoreHow sustainable is New Zealand?
One of the biggest issues missed during the election campaign was the sustainability of National's economic, environmental and even social policies. So what do you do if the government's not thinking long-term?
Read MoreThe original broad church
I know this will make me even more unpopular on The Standard and The Daily Blog. Being Catholic will probably be seen as another reason to question my right to represent the Left; which is odd, given that there is a proud tradition of social justice in the Catholic church.
Read MoreSusan St John accuses
Susan St John accuses me of “visionless pro-work rhetoric” for writing in my blog about Labour’s position on extending the Working For Families tax credit to families not in work.
Read MoreHow David Cunliffe is like Scarlett Johansson
Labour has to take the blame for creating a bizarre mystique around David Cunliffe's motivations, and his supposedly aloof nature. The problem is not really Cunliffe, it's PR
Read MoreNot another column about the Labour leadership
Time to stop talking about the Opposition and focus on what will really effect us over the next three years: what will the National government do to protect Kiwis from another looming recession?
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