Our nearest neighbour, New Caledonia, has a very different political economy. Will it vote for full independence from France in 2018 – also leaving the European Union?
Read MoreLa Trahison des Clercs
When academics venture into the media to inform the public about their discipline, they have a basic obligation to be accurate in what they say. I'm afraid that Prof. Chris Gallavin has fallen short of this standard.
Read MoreOne Percent Please
The Government announcement of a Predator Free goal for New Zealand by 2050 sounds good. But the budget for this is woefully inadequate, and comes on top of years of cost cutting - some say the deliberate, reckless weakening - of the Department of Conservation. We need to do more.
Read MoreNow the drugs (laws) don't work, they just make you worse
It's not exactly news that our criminal prohibition on possessing marijuana is a really bad policy. But a bunch of news stories this week serve to remind us just how bad it is.
Read MorePolicy by Panic
In too many areas the government is avoiding taking policy decisions. When it has to its panic measures are knee-jerk and quick-fix
Read MoreThe Mouse that Roared: NZ's historic day as the US backs down
Ignore the spin: The United States has backed down after 31 years and confirmed it will send a non-nuclear ship to New Zealand. The super power has lost. But does that mean New Zealand has won?
Read MoreAnother View on Prison Volunteers – Taking Civil Society into the Prison
Prison volunteers as the bridge between prison and civil society
Read MoreMr Big strikes again ...
Tawera Wichman was caught using a "Mr Big" undercover trap. The Supreme Court (narrowly) said that this was OK - but that there are still problems with how the Police can mount such operations. And now I can tell you all this freely and openly.
Read MoreErdogan's swift coup revenge...
Turkey's President Erdogan is hell bent on revenge against those who tried to oust him in the country's latest military coup. The round-up of suspects and the crack down on human and civil rights is nothing short of staggering….and concerning.
Read MoreHousing and Monetarism
The Reserve Bank cannot deliver affordable housing by itself. Its actions have to be coordinated with the government's. Unfortunately the monetarist framework of the Reserve Bank Act obscures this.
Read MoreCorrections should get rid of all 2,500 volunteers
If the Government was serious about reducing re-offending, the Corrections Department would pay for professional reintegration services instead of relying on well meaning volunteers like Ngapari Nui
Read MoreThe United States of Guns and Racism
Last week's executions in the United States - of five police officers and two young black men at point blank range - should have the shock value to wake up that nation, but it won't. Politics has immediately taken hold, with the black president a sitting target. Apparently it was his job to fix racism because he's black. Apparently he has failed.
Read MoreMisleading Pop-economics and Populism
Too much of pop-economics is misleading to the point close to being lying. No wonder there is a widespread rejection of it by the populace.
Read MoreBlair as tormented victim…
Tony Blair's spin mastery has worn out. The Chilcot inquiry may not have found him to be a liar, but it would be difficult to imagine his legacy as any but Bush's starry eyed poodle who became jointly responsible for the destruction of Iraq and the catastrophic consequences we are all witnessing today.
Read MoreWhat lies beneath: Another (good) govt u-turn
Bill English wasn't interested in helping with infrastructure a few weeks ago, now National is riding to the rescue. It's a good move, but another sign of a panicked government
Read MoreSaudi Sheep deal: New facts, new questions.
New revelations demand answers from the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister about how knew what in the Saudi sheep deal. Has Murray McCully misled cabinet?
Read MoreIn the Best Interests of Her Children?
Punitive public policy too often ignores its impact on the children involved.
Read MorePure profit... even if pure science says it's safe
As the rest of the world moves towards more GE food, New Zealand stands apart. And while that may make little scientific sense, it could be very good for our bank balance
Read MorePaula Bennett's reading comprehension failure
Back when I was at school, we used to have to do tests where we'd read a section of writing and then answer questions about it. Perhaps Paula Bennett ought to be given a few of these to sharpen up on, because she seems to have trouble with her comprehension skills.
Read MoreMicawber Down Under
Nineteenth-century migrants may have come here to escape oppressive laws, but the laws migrated too. It was late in the twentieth century that we abolished one of the most oppressive ones. Our origins are less humane than we like to pretend.
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