When it comes to our homelessness crisis, you can come up with constructive ideas or, it seems, you can blame those living in their cars for bringing it on themselves
Read MoreWhy isn't cabinet doing what it says it should for Teina Pora?
Teina Pora has been given the thing he said he wanted most – a formal apology for the 22 years he wrongly spent behind bars as an innocent man. He also has been offered $2.5 million in compensation. Applying the Cabinet’s own principles, it ought to be in excess of $4.5 million.
Read MoreBrief pre-announcement thoughts on Pora's compensation
How much are 20-something years of a life worth? Later today we'll find out what the Government thinks - but here's some early thoughts on advance reports.
Read MoreThe Economics of Information and the Newspaper Merger
The economics of information shows that whatever happens, the solution our ailing newspapers to the digital revolution will not be a perfect one.
Read MoreNo to myopic loyalty to Kiwis
Let's not just blindly cheer for Kiwis such as Helen Clark and Steven Adams, let's judge them on merit
Read MorePerhaps Judith Collins needs to slow down just a wee bit
Judith Collins let us know what she thinks about how the Police currently enforce speed restrictions on our roads. Not only did she actually get this wrong, but she probably shouldn't be telling us anyway.
Read MoreYou can thank the "taxpayers' union" for this!
$23 million of the proceeds from the sale of your stuff that you were told would go to kids, sick people and better road instead is going to be used to stop people complaining that their new passports cost too much - and you can thank the "Taxpayers' Union" for that!
Read MoreReading "Other People’s Money: The Real Business of Finance"
Do you know what a bezzle is? Here is a book which explains the sophisticated financial system.
Read MoreCivil Justice for Blessie?
The family of Blessie Gotingco, who was murdered by an offender just out of prison, are crowdfunding with a view to a possible civil claim. The litigation following an earlier similar incident suggests that there are some pretty big legal obstacles in the way of a successful claim.
Read MoreIn which universe will Winston Peters become PM?
In a classic piece of misdirection, we're being urged to look away from the recent Labour-Greens MOU and towards a future with Winston Peters as PM. I did, and there really isn't much there.
Read MoreNational stuck in "release land" mantra
National is stuck in the bad old days with its obsession with land supply. Auckland now needs something more, and here's what
Read MoreFrom a small cabin to the big house
How cabins in a Te Atatu garden and a Budget 2016 freeze on schools' operating budget could affect New Zealand's prison population in years to come
Read MoreThe Opposition dating game
Labour and the Greens are making a match. But there's an ex-boyfriend hovering over proceedings
Read MoreTime to hit the reset button - again?
Turns out the government has been wrongly paying some accommodation supplement recipients for the last 23 years. Here's my overly cynical and (I hope) deeply wrong take on the advice MSD will give the government about how to respond.
Read MoreThe Budget: A Longer Term Prognosis.
A major preoccupation of the budget was preparing for the next major financial crisis. To do so it is reducing government spending relative to GDP. Where do tax cuts fit in?
Read MoreAdapt or die: Flicking the switch on solar
Power companies attempting to fend off solar power are at risk of following the horse and cart into oblivion
Read MoreHousing game-changer: Spreading the blame
Housing remains the government's biggest weakness and so National is redoubling its efforts. No, not to build houses, but to contain the political damage
Read MoreBudget 2017: The Prequel
Bill English's eight budget ticks boxes here and there, but it will be remembered in history for its complacency and the missed opportunities it represents
Read MoreWhy Corrections prevented Tony Robertson from getting treatment in prison
Tony Robertson has a lot in common with Graeme Burton, William Bell & the Beast of Blenheim. They were all serious high risk offenders – but none of them got to attend a rehabilitation programme in prison
Read MoreHave We a Housing Policy?
The government has let the housing market deteriorate with measures which are insufficient, late and ineffective. As a first step we need to identify the underlying problems.
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