A new book leads to ponderings on our technology strategy.
Read MoreA special treat for Dunedin readers!
Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Dr Andrew Butler propose that New Zealand should have a written constitution. If you're in Dunedin this Wednesday night, come along to the Museum and hear why.
Read MoreA little something for the weekend (now with pictures!)
The Nation this weekend is telling the story of family carers of disabled adult relatives and the pretty shabby way they've been treated over the years. And it looks like Sam Lotu-liga just doesn't want to talk about that.
Read MoreThree strikes and you still get out
The courts really, really don't like the "three strikes" sentencing regime. And they're doing what they can to avoid having it force them into actions they think are wholly disproportionate.
Read MoreThe Future of International Trading.
Can Trump wreck the world trading system?
Read MorePost TPP confusion - or, will Ms Miller come to Wellington?
Is it a good idea for New Zealand to try and resurrect the Trans-Pacific Partnership without the involvement of the USA? And, if it does so, will the Government have to go back to Parliament and ask it to change a Bill it's just agreed to?
Read MoreRestoring Fiscal Responsibility
The times are a’changing, as recent macroeconomic fashions are being abandoned and old verities are being restated.
Read MoreAngry People
The alienated Angries who supported Brexit and Trump are not going to go away.
Read MoreSo long, Leonard
Leonard Cohen has died. His music won't.
Read MoreWhen hate Trumps love – America's search for a DeLorean
Many thousands of Americans looked past Donald Trump's nastiness, abuse and incompetence in search of a time that has gone, tragically rejecting a woman with the potential to have made real change
Read MoreSub Lege
It is important that judges face criticism―but not attacks like those on the judges who decided the Brexit case
Read MoreJAFA Inequality
While overall income inequality may have been relatively stable over the last two decades, it appears to be increasing in Auckland (and perhaps in our other big urban centres).
Read MoreThey said I'd better take anything they'd got
A couple of interesting developments - one on the other side of the world and one here at home. Turns out that the UK's Parliament is still sovereign (who knew?). And I think Gareth Morgan should be given more praise than scorn for wanting to inject some thinking into New Zealand's political scene.
Read MoreKris Faafoi is no fun and I'm not playing with him anymore
The shame of the Saudi Sheep deal, or democracy gone to the dogs
Finally, we see the Auditor-General's report on the Saudi sheep deal and it's "significant shortcomings", and if you're not angry, you haven't been paying attention. Because here's the real story...
Read MoreMy hot takes on the Auditor General's "sheep-to-sand report"
The Auditor General has found that Murray McCully (and the rest of his National Party cabinet colleagues) are not corrupt criminals. They just entered into a deal with a Saudi businessman without really knowing why, what that deal would do, or the basis for giving him some $11 million or our money.
Read MoreWho Was Accountable for the Shambles?
A novel about an historical event reminds us of the health redisorganisation of the 1990s, raising issues remaining relevant to today.
Read MoreBill English admits his Government is a 'moral and fiscal failure'
New Zealand has fallen prey to penal populism: our prison population is at an all time high – driven by victims rights groups and the public's moral panic over violent crime
Read MoreSing me to sleep
The real scandal isn't that the Police set up a (probably) illegal drink driving checkpoint to get the names of elderly people interested in exercising control over the circumstances of their own death. It's that our law doesn't allow such people an option without having the Police stick their noses in to it.
Read MoreCan Te Awamutu Have its Own Independent Central Bank?
Pretending it can, or that the Reserve Bank of New Zealand can function independently from the rest of the world, could generate a financial crash.
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