Babblers, Cops and Quacks
The sometimes dark – but often amusing – origins of nicknames for jobs.
Employment
We Are Importing Timber From Other Countries
Removing local supply for furniture, flooring, cladding, joinery, and structural applications does not eliminate demand – it displaces it offshore.
This Is Fueling Identity Theft
Employers not using E-Verify can be easily fooled, according to several experts, as fake documents have become increasingly sophisticated and artificial intelligence is helping criminals, too.
The India Deal We Never Voted For
Trade should benefit NZ first. Immigration policy should serve the long-term stability of the nation, not the short-term political vanity of ministers. If we keep pretending those two things are unrelated, we should not be surprised when the NZ we wake up to feels less and less like home.
Work, Welfare and the Illusion of Eden
Giving as an output of human labor is better than receiving, because receiving discourages work and work is how one is blessed with the ability to give – so we need to beware of thoughtless, unstructured giving that discourages work.
Why Is the Right Promoting Idleness?
The very worst thing we can do is to continue down the current path of welfarism and creeping UBI. As a society we need to provide help for those whose jobs disappear to retrain and look for the new opportunities that will arise.
The Toppling of the Work Tipple
So here’s to the furtive half-pint in the car park, the emergency hip-flask at the Christmas do and the quiet rebellion of those who still believe work should occasionally feel like play. Bottoms up – while we’re still allowed.
The Truth About Those ‘High Minimum Wage’ Countries
Headline wages in Finland and Australia exempt millions of workers, and the loopholes tell us a lot about labor market realities.
Latest Benefit Data and Three Observations
At 411,012 in October 2025, New Zealand has the highest absolute number of beneficiaries ever.
The Public Service That Serves Itself
The choice is clear: shrink government, or government will consume everything.
What an Effective Welfare System Might Look Like
The welfare system has evolved from providing a safety net for those genuinely unable to provide for themselves to offering an alternative lifestyle to paid employment.
National Is Trying but Not Hard Enough
As policies go, it’s a plus, but barely positive and would rate a one out of 10 in the overall need for real welfare reform.
Yes Virginia, AI Is Coming for Your Job
If you’re a middle manager, AI is coming for your job. Who is safe? Tradies and jobs involving some sort of human creativity or judgement beyond what AI can or will ever do. And we will always need people to work one step above AI. But overall, yes, AI is coming for your job.
No, the World Isn’t Ending
If you call your boss stupid and your boss takes offense, he/she ‘the boss’ has every right to can you from working in the office. ‘Free speech’ does not apply to the employee-employer relationship.