Would it be unfair to say that David Farrar considers the mental anguish anti-abortion protestors cause to women about to undergo a termination procedure matters less than the annoyance a voter may feel at having to refuse to accept a political party leaflet? Maybe it would, so read on and decide for yourself ... .
Read MoreSeymour calls out Bridges as "weak" on Auckland traffic
ACT leader distances himself from National's handling of Auckland issues, especially traffic congestion
Read MoreI really can't believe I'm having to say this again ...
Nuk Korako either doesn't understand what his own members bill would do, or he is misleading Parliament.
Read Moremea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa
Gerry Brownlee has made me see the error of my ways. Two plus two equals five, and Nuk Korako's #noluggageleftbehind bill is a sterling contribution to the very fabric of New Zealand's democracy.
Read MoreWhat Are Universities Really For?
A Professor of Education challenges universities about their purpose.
Read MoreC'est pire qu'un crime, c'est une faute.
Nuc Korako's #noluggageleftbehind bill not only doesn't do what he says it is meant to do, but it appears that it will do nothing at all.
Read MoreWorst. Members. Bill. Ever.
Nuk Korako's Airport Authorities (Publicising Lost Property Sales) Amendment Bill doesn't do what it says it is intended to do, doesn't need to be in the form that it is, and is intended purely to prevent other more worthy pieces of legislation from being debated. National's 50th ranked list MP is really proving his worth here.
Read MoreHow Much Migration?
Free movement of labour is often described as one of the four fundamental economic freedoms. Putting it into practice is somewhat more difficult.
Read More"It is me, and yet, it is another..."
The Thick of It was a searing satire on how modern politics works (and doesn't work). I don't think it was meant to provide a script for Rugby chief executives who say stupid things when their players get accused of harassing a woman just doing her job.
Read MoreContext is king: Why Clark's race record is so complex
How and what we remember is complicated but crucial. So when we consider the Maori Party's criticism of Helen Clark, shouldn't we ask if New Zealand is a better or worse place to be Maori given her three terms in government?
Read MoreFrexit for New Caledonia?
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.
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