The Government's plans to use the Crown's land for houses for Aucklanders face a bit of a problem - it may not be able to sell them the land on which those houses sit.
Read MoreJames Shaw as 'The Bachelor'. Can he win hearts?
The new Greens co-leader has the job of winning roses from thousands of sceptical New Zealand voters. Can he come across as credible enough? And is his 'no Nats' gamble the right move?
Read MoreWhat Sort of TPP Deal?
The US senate has given trade promotion authority to the President. What next? Will the TPP agreement be acceptable, and to whom?
Read MoreWhat Labour has to learn from the budget
The Left must learn from the political techniques deployed so successfully in this budget. Unless we ask ourselves the hard questions the right ask themselves, and are prepared to prioritise and make some tough decisions, we will maintain poll ratings bleakly far behind the Government's.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday May 29
FIFA indictments continue to shock; US rebukes China's maritime ambitions; Thai protest leaders receive prison sentences; Pentagon accidentally ships live anthrax; Afghan Security Force members join Taliban; and more
Read MoreYes! At long last, we have a plan – it's a secret but it is working
Budget 2015 documents were accompanied by a banner heading A plan that's working. An undoubtedly naive economist, originally ignorant as to the presence of the plan, describes his journey in uncovering the nature of the plan.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday May 27
Iraqi forces launch Anbar offensive; China releases expansive new naval strategy; mass graves found at Malay-Thai border thought to be human trafficking victims; Afghan officials in secret peace talks with Taliban; US-Mexico border slammed by storms; and more
Read MoreTwo Dollars A Day, is All They Pay, for Helping with Povertay
The 2015 Budget did not deal with children's poverty but it did put a down payment.
Read MoreBudget 2015: A clever patch-up job, but stitched together by broken promises
National has reinforced its capacity to surprise, but also its capacity for making things up as it goes along. And to make ends meet, Key and English have done several u-turns
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Friday May 22
Ancient Syrian city of Palmyra taken by ISIS; Malaysia orders search and rescue for migrant boats in Andaman Sea; new PM for South Korea; US intelligence releases Bin Laden documents; California declares state of emergency after oil spill; and more
Read MoreWhat if your MP was decided on the flip of a coin?
We say that it should be the voters and the voters alone that determine who is and who is not a member of Parliament. At least, up until we say that pure chance should decide that matter.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Thursday May 21
Indonesia and Malaysia agree to take stranded migrants; North Korea claims to have miniaturised its nuclear weapons for missile use; Burundi postpones elections; Syrian rebels claim Idlib military base; and more
Read MoreThe Budget analysis - before it's even delivered
Here's my take on the Budget... before it comes out.
Read MoreForget the "jihad" against John Banks - this is much worse
John Banks' win at the Court of Appeal hopefully sheds some much needed light on the sorry state of costs in criminal cases.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Wednesday May 20
Afghanistan and Pakistan sign intelligence deal; trial against former Thai PM begins; Ban Ki-moon to visit North Korea; Burundi president fires ministers; 170 bikers charged in relation to Texas shooting; and more
Read MoreIf you want people to believe you are honest, then it's best not to file false donation returns
John Banks should have been declared innocent by the Court of Appeal in November last year. But that doesn't mean he should not have been before the courts at all.
Read MoreWorld News Brief, Tuesday May 19
Islamic State takes control of Ramadi; diplomats from India, Malaysia and Thailand to address migrant crisis; US threatens new sanctions on North Korea; Nigeria claims troops have killed many Boko Haram militants; Obama bans military assault gear for local police; and more
Read MoreHuffing and puffing at houses: Third term straw
National has done something so that it looks like it's doing something about Auckland housing. But it reeks of third term-itis when you pretend you're fixing a problem when you're merely tinkering
Read MoreShould There be a Budget Deficit?
There is a lot of chatter about the government’s budget deficit, but politics aside why does it matter?
Read MoreSome victims are more equal than others in the maths of nations
While the search goes on for the dead, Asia Pacific countries seem willing to leave those starving in the Andaman Sea to their fate
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