Chris Trotter
Known principally for his political commentaries in The Dominion Post, The ODT, The Press and the late, lamented Independent, and for "No Left Turn", his 2007 history of the Left/Right struggle in NZ.
On Sending Them Home
Transforming the revenge fantasies of anti-immigrant populists into enforceable public policy will not be easy.
On the Right Side
By announcing an inquiry into the Reserve Bank’s handling of monetary policy in the time of Covid, Nicola Willis has come up with potentially highly effective solution to National’s electoral problems.
This Is a Diabolical Manifesto
That’s the problem with the Devil’s great ideas – they’re the Devil’s great ideas.
A Boring Election? We Can Only Hope
When journalists stop being bored and cynical, it’s time for New Zealanders to watch their backs.
Nothing Left of the Left
When left and right start behaving in the same way, there’s nothing left of the left.
Is Democracy Becoming a ‘Nice to Have’?
Why stop at eliminating just one layer of democratic representation, when many people wouldn’t really mind if you eliminated them all?
The Cross Benches Beckon NZ First
With woke clowns to the left of him and free-market jokers to his right, Winston’s offer to sit there in middle with us grows more appealing by the day.
The Peelian Principles and Police Work
No group of human-beings is more dangerous than a group of idealists determined to ensure the survival of their ideals – even at the cost of ignoring or actively subverting everybody else’s.
The Last Generation for Whom Democracy Worked
The Baby Boomers got everything they voted for – no wonder they keep on voting.
Back and Forth: A Whipsaw Democracy
A parliament that pulls one way this year and then pushes back in the opposite direction next year is courting its own demise.
The BSA’s Power Grab Attempt
The impresarios of moral outrage are poised to deliver the internet into the hands of the Broadcasting Standards Authority.