Both Sides Now

We need to be able to trust advice from public servants, particularly in local government where the systems can be less rigorous and the politicians less knowledgeable.

The Otago Regional Council continues to fight with the government about how to look after freshwater in Otago.

It is time we started holding organisations accountable for their role in the effects of natural disasters.

Imagine you have just won the lottery and $13.2 million has landed in your pockets.

The problem of not knowing what government departments are for is not because they have Māori names.

The Manuherikia river is many things to many people.

It seems to have been a year of dropping standards, difficulties with core government services and a feeling that we may have gone backwards.

You may think something that takes between a-third and a-half of council resources would be worth ratepayers having a say about.

Councils are increasingly tempted into trying to be virtuous on our account.

It is hardly surprising the incoming coalition partners all want to repeal the Three Waters reforms.

Democracy requires free and fair elections.

There are more important issues than whether there is money in the kitty for policies for the next government.

The government is in the process of spending about $1.8 billion on a hospital in Dunedin.

The New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 was passed by the parliament of the United Kingdom.

The government came into power concerned about the cost and quality of rental housing in New Zealand.

It's not just how much the government takes from us or borrows.

There must be a better way to deal with Treaty and race issues in New Zealand.

Nobody at senior levels in government is taking responsibility anymore.

Don't lose heart now, University of Otago.

That the Speaker of the House is keeping his "correspondence" with former Labour MP Meka Whaitiri secret is outrageous.