Stephen Berry
Stephen Berry is compiling this guide on the Auckland Local Body elections as an independent commentator. His recommendations are based on his own research and are not on behalf of any organisation. P
Prime Minister Pauline Hanson, You Think?
It is encouraging to witness the decline of two-party duopolies throughout Western democracies as voters have a greater opportunity to successfully support reformative movements outside those of centrist seat-warmers.
Going From Terror to Tyranny
Passing new laws every time a terrorist act occurs does not make us safer: it merely emboldens a different, stronger entity to inflict its own tools of terror – our own government.
Reviewing Picks for 2025, Predictions for 2026
For 2025, buoyed by confidence in my abilities as a prognosticator, I decided to go for 15 predictions for the year which should probably result in a metaphorical faceplant. Let’s see how I went.
National Finishes Year With a Yawn
Willis’ career is approaching election year with a stumble and a yawn. By election day, it may well have died in its sleep.
It Would Be Better to Ban Politicians
While fireworks face being banned to keep them out of the hands of the stupid, at each election ballot papers are thrust into those same hands with potentially worse consequences.
The Libertarian Victory in Argentina
The success of La Libertad Avanza has delivered Javier Milei a firm mandate to accelerate the pace of his libertarian reforms.
New Japanese PM Is No Iron Lady
The comparison of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to Margaret Thatcher is largely inaccurate, confusing Takaichi’s uniquely Japanese nationalism with Thatcher’s British patriotism.
What a Nightmare in Victoria
Given the choice between the mad cow throwing around my money and the opposition leader promising you’ll be searched for walking down the street, I’ll probably vote Libertarian.
We Should Not Risk Our Protest Rights
I think the best response to activists that publish private addresses for this purpose is to publicise that person and their actions and publicly shame them. We don’t need another bloody law!
Can Milei Win Argentina Midterms?
The prospects for La Libertad Avanza growing its representation in both houses is promising and this will ensure he can accelerate his libertarian reform programme over the next two years.
Are the Wheels Wobbling?
The National Party looks fragile as we near an election in about one year’s time and there appears to be nobody willing to make some tough calls to jolt the economy into shape in time to win.
Growing the Com Com Instead
Competition regulation doesn’t ensure better market outcomes, because it requires that businesses act against their own interests in the hope they won’t be the next arbitrary victim of socialist technocratic thugs.
Zero Chance of Net Zero
Whatever political games and back-office hi-jinks are being employed by politicians now, it is a relief that at least some of them recognise the potential for political gain by breaking with the ‘settled’ science that has dominated environmental politics this century.
An Absolutely Biased Guide to This Mayoral Election
I will rank each Auckland mayoral candidate from $ for radical leftists to $$$$$ for small-government dynamos. For some candidates, the 🤡 to 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 🤡 scale may be more appropriate.
Booze Pendulum Swings Back to Sanity
A small swing toward freedom now means that the next small swing toward freedom will achieve more – likely following the next general election.