Breaking up Is Hard To Do
Divorcing Labour from neoliberalism, the Treaty and identity politics will not be easy.
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.
The Man on the £5 Note
A nation that refuses to remember and celebrate its history will see its past expunged by those who prefer to forget it.
Torn to Shreds
Against the wealth and power of the United States, International Law has the stopping power of a spider’s web.
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.