Resilience amid turmoil: a long-range challenge for Key
It never rains but it pours. Queenslanders would get the point of this tired, hackneyed, overused, wrung-out, saturated cliche. New Zealanders might be starting to get the point of the figure of...
View ArticlePublic services are changing, not just being cut
Which pinko lefty bloated waffler said this: “Public servants … are a vitally important component of democracy. The better the public servant, the stronger and more effective the democracy?” Answer:...
View ArticleHow far will McCully and Key rebalance foreign policy?
How will the relationship with Australia go long-term? Where does China fit? These questions will be teased out at two forums later this week. The large shadow on the wall at both will be the United...
View ArticleLabour: a party in transition – but to what?
Phil Goff is a baby-boomer. He is a quintessential member of what has been called the educational meritocracy. And, though you might be forgiven for wondering after all the media coups, he is leader of...
View ArticleThe small and large cost of not having an exit strategy
Always have an exit strategy. That is one of politics’ rules some learn the hard way. It is also a rule of diplomacy and war. Anzac Day is a reminder. Gerry Brownlee and John Key learnt the exit...
View ArticleIt's fringe-theatre politics: enjoy the show
It’s been a week of fringe-theatre politics: Don Brash on his white charger trampling Rodney Hide to save the nation; Hone Harawira making a Maori future with Matt McCarten and Nandor Tanczos; and free...
View ArticleWater, water, everywhere — now in the cabinet
Nick Smith has a message from China where he has recently been. China has 20 per cent of the global population, eight per cent of the arable land and 2 per cent of the water. New Zealand is No 2 for...
View ArticleA budget (not) about the nice-to-haves
Is the economy in a bad way or coming right? It depends which John Key you are listening to. At last Monday’s post-cabinet press conference two Keys were on offer. Flagging a slimmer KiwiSaver, Key...
View ArticlePostponing the future — the real fiscal deficit
Where was the future in the budget? Postponed. Yet again. Ministers’ minds were on past sins and present preoccupations. Nearly all economists agree that those preoccupations — balanced budgets, an...
View ArticleScience or old politics: a test for John Key
On Wednesday two reports will go public. They will challenge John Key to go with science or stick to old politics. The reports are on fixing wayward youth and on early childhood education and will both...
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