Too much of our national media is located in Auckland and democracy suffers.
Read MoreBetween the potency and the existence ... falls the shadow
Despite what the "three strikes" law seemed to say, another murderer has avoided a sentence of full-life-without-parole. And that's partly David Garrett's fault.
Read MorePundit's complete guide to the Cricket World Cup
I don't really know enough about cricket to say anything clever or meaningful about the World Cup. Fortunately, I've found someone who is able to be very funny about it
Read MoreOn the use of Daesh and the application of Terrorism
It is time to call ISIS by the acronym of its actual name which just happens to omit reference to both state and caliphate….and while we are at it, have a long hard think about how subjectively the 'T' word is bandied about these days.
Read MoreIt's punitive welfare that's pointless, not protest
Protest outside Nats' summer party a necessary act of defiance in face of welfare and housing reforms
Read MoreWhat is The Problem with a Universal Minimum Income?
They involve tax rates horrendously high or the minimum incomes so low that ihe UMI is not a viable means of eliminating poverty.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday February 13
Ukraine cease-fire brokered; Burma revokes voting rights for Muslim Rohingya; Taiwan prison standoff ends with suicide; Al Jazeera journalists released on bail; suicide bombers target Niger border town; and more
Read MoreWhy not elect a Cassowary as Premier?
Queensland voters didn't go quite as far as this cartoon recommended. But they did create quite a thorny thicket for their politicians to play in.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday February 12
EU and Russian leaders meet to negotiate peace in Ukraine; Chinese president Xi Jinping to make first state visit to US; Australian police thwart alleged ISIS attack; Western embassies pull out of Yemen; Greek Pm wins vote of confidence; and more
Read MoreNetanyahu needs to pull the plug on his address to the US Congress
Israel's Prime Minister is using the potential nuclear deal with Iran for his own personal political reasons. While there is still time he should heed the advice of those who actually do value the close and, until now, non-partisan relationship between Israel and the United States.
Read MoreWhen the umpire commits the foul
If Parliament's rules say you aren't even allowed to refer to the existence of a particular court case, then how can the Speaker enforce those rules without letting everyone knows that the court case exists?
Read MoreDanger cliff edge: Andrew Little's loose footing
Andrew Little has wandered off message a bit recently, and as parliament starts needs to give himself a stern talking to if he's serious about earning the trust of middle New Zealand
Read MoreThe Inquisition of Obama's Crusades
President Obama wants a public debate on the danger of a religious war against all of Islam because of the hideous criminal actions of some under the banner of Islam. Like anything done in the US in the name of God, it is fraught with the dangers of partisan politics.
Read MoreTrading Water Resource Consents
‘Iwi leaders and the Government have agreed on a deadline to sort out Maori interests in fresh water by Waitangi Day 2016.’ (News: 5 February 2015)
Read MoreAll those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain
Canada's Supreme Court just announced that Canadians do not have a duty to live. Why do New Zealanders?
Read MoreWhy does one symbol matter, but another does not?
John Key thinks our colonial flag is an outdated symbol that needs replacing. So why is our relationship with the Monarchy any different?
Read MoreWhy it's OK the coach can't go to the [basket]ball
The rules were pretty clear and the ethnic sports tournament hardly unprecidented, so why the fuss about the Maori Basketball tournament? Is this Waitangi fever?
Read More"A trying operation under the influence of chloroform"
Handing someone a "Vote United Future" pamphlet on election day is an offence that can get you fined $20,000. Why is that, and should it be so?
Read MoreNothing takes the place of a great teacher
Online learning is not the solution it was touted to be. You just can't beat real-life interaction with a great teacher
Read MoreJust Do It
Policy announcements do not always reflect careful analysis. Too often the unstated political considerations have too much influence.
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