Political analysis and commentary shaping the progressive debate in Aotearoa New Zealand, focused on power, policy, and accountability.
Most readers will be aware that my family’s long-running (four and a half years long) ‘dispute’ with Waikato DHB is now over.
It’s easy to get caught up in a roller coaster of elation and despair, writes NORML president Chris Fowlie, but we need to focus on the only poll that counts: the Referendum itself.
ONE OF THE MOST puzzling features of contemporary New Zealand fascism is its self-imposed failure. When fascist groups are discussed,…
All of our prisons in New Zealand are high security in the sense of razor wire, single entry, lots of staff, strong security focus, stab-proof vests and so on. There is an inescapable dehumanisation about our prisons, whether intended or not. They are really expensive to run but not so good at development or rehabilitation, or family contact and job-finding.
Former Police, Corrections, and Justice Minister in the previous John Key government, Judith Collins, has been ridiculed on social media after posting a comment on Twitter that was patently untrue;
It is great that the Government intends paying attention at last to the broken welfare system. But has it left its run too late?
It’s a sad truth that in our daily political discourse the struggle of people on low incomes doesn’t rate much.
A new surge in the price of gold in US dollars would force the Federal Reserve to reverse course and start hiking interest rates and reversing easing once more. Trump would then have the choice of firing the Federal Reserve and forcing his changes, as he hinted at doing in late 2018, or having an election-year recession. This would provoke a political and economic crisis of historic proportions.
THE SHOCK/HORROR expressed at the Christchurch Shooter’s letter from prison is unworthy of a grown-up nation. A bold assertion, to which the cynical will undoubtedly reply: “True – but this is New Zealand we’re talking about!” Beleaguered liberals will chuckle ruefully – and move on. Because who now believes that the shock/horror “deplorables” are in any way redeemable? And, who really cares?
AND SO IT BEGINS, the National Party’s simultaneous descent and ascent. Downwards, into the dark territory of “whatever it takes”. Upwards, into the glare of electoral victory. It’s happening because the party’s present leader has convinced himself that it is only the first movement which makes possible the second.