Should we just make up some Russian spies so we can kick them out because the rest of the world is doing it? Or, would that be a less-than-ideal politicisation of intelligence information? I report, you decide.
Read MoreWhoops, sorry, the dog ate my Russian spy
Looking at the long lead-up to New Zealand's increasingly curious stance on Russia, the government seems to be wasting diplomatic capital at a time it should be storing it up against future need
Read MoreRNZ, Hirschfeld and Curran let the clichés come out to play ...
Carol Hirschfeld's resignation as head of content for RNZ shows that "Honesty Is The Best Policy", while Claire Curran's decision to set up a cafe meeting reminds us all to "Look Before You Leap". Let the clichés commence ... .
Read MoreAre We Boiling Frogs?
Environmental pressures have been steadily accumulating. Are we aware of them? Are we responding?
Read MoreDoes Economic and Political Liberalisation Work?
A retired diplomat’s memoirs lead to pondering on whether Gorbachev ever had a chance?
Read MoreHow we found the NZDF was wrong on Hit & Run
A year ago New Zealand's top soldier stood in front of the cameras and insisted that the book Hit & Run had got it wrong. This week, after a year's wait, an OIA request prompted the NZDF to admit the photos in the book had the right location after all. This is the story of that request
Read MoreA submission on the Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Act
A bunch of legal and political studies academics think the proposed Electoral (Integrity) Amendment Bill (or, party hopping law) is a bad idea. Here's why.
Read MoreToday’s Vicars of Bray
The ease with which independents in the policy networks switch their allegiance when governments or ministers change tells us something about how New Zealand’s wider government system in works.
Read MoreRedesigning the Welfare State
A new report raises questions about the past and future of the support that we give to those in need.
Read MoreSteven Joyce and the turning of the tide
Of course there was nothing else for it. Steven Joyce was never going to sit there and fade into insignificance. So now National begins its true test, and it could signal a realignment on the right of New Zealand politics
Read MoreBy their acts ye shall know them
Wearing a wig is not a form of expression. Depending, that is, upon the sort of wig it is. And why the person is wearing it. Maybe. Hope that clears things up for you.
Read MoreTaxing for Wellbeing
Can we extend our tax system to make it more suitable for a modern (post-neoliberal) nation?
Read MoreAre Share Prices Important?
How Do Share Markets Work?
Read More"If the King's English was good enough for Jesus Christ ... "
As I told Laura Walters at stuff.co.nz, Clayton Mitchell's bill to deem English an official language of Aotearoa New Zealand is a piece of legally meaningless virtue signalling. Here's why.
Read MoreDon't say a prayer for me now... but should we save it for some time after?
When Trevor Mallard read out a new, revised prayer at the start of parliament this year, I started writing about some of the questions it raised for me. It's taken a while to get it down, but I wonder whether we shouldn't be giving this some deeper thought
Read MoreThe Arrogance of Experts
Poor work gets echoed if it is sensational enough and suits ideological preconceptions..
Read MoreThe New Government’s First Hundred Days.
What has it told us about the next three years?
Read MoreThe Future of Free Trade Agreements
This column was first posted at https://www.newsroom.co.nz/.
Read MoreCan Israel really make New Zealanders pay damages for expressing their opinion?
An Israeli legal group are threatening to sue two New Zealand women for writing an opinion piece on a New Zealand website. They'll probably never get a cent from it, but that's not really the point of the exercise.
Read MorePredictable polls and bye-bye Bill
As all things new come to dominate New Zealand's political landscape, National will be forced more quickly than it hoped to confront its own need for change. Tonight's poll offers succour for the party, but tolls the bell for Bill.
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