Politician who swapped jobs was 2016's standout performer
Politician who swapped jobs was 2016's standout performer
In old rich Europe and the United States, 2016 has been the year of the populist in politics.
Commentary
Finding the post-Key balance key for new PM
Finding the post-Key balance key for new PM
Bill English and Paula Bennett are now assembling their ministry. Their task: to continue the Key government without John Key but also to demonstrate they are not the Key-government-without-Key.
Pivotal polling in Italy, Austria
Pivotal polling in Italy, Austria
On Saturday, there is the Mt Roskill by-election. On Sunday, there are two votes that could have a far bigger long-term effect.
Kaikoura quake gives House good shake-up
Kaikoura quake gives House good shake-up
One bit of good news from last week's earthquake was from Parliament.
US the standard-bearer no longer
US the standard-bearer no longer
For seven decades after 1945 the United States proclaimed itself the global standard-bearer of democracy - and broadly was. No longer.
Engagement on the right terms
Engagement on the right terms
A visiting Hong Kong democracy activist and former top public servant had this advice last week: ``It is in each country's interests to be clear about the terms of engagement.''
Brollies up: dribbles persist
Brollies up: dribbles persist
It's the third term, for sure. Last week, Michael Woodhouse dribbled some policy coolant on a political hot spot: hot immigration numbers. Judith Collins tried the same on police numbers.
Where's centre in populist times?
Where's centre in populist times?
Helen Clark doesn't know when to bow out. That is not a statement about her bid to boss the United Nations. It is about her bossing the Labour Party.
Now for a 'tertiary' education revamp?
Now for a 'tertiary' education revamp?
John Key declared on The Nation that he would serve out a fourth term if re-elected. That would make him the third-longest-serving prime minister.
Andrew Little needs the numbers back his way
Andrew Little needs the numbers back his way
Bugger the pollsters, Jim Bolger famously said on election night in 1993. The (TVNZ) poll is bogus, Andrew Little grumped last week.
NZ First pushing rule by citizens as constitution change raised
NZ First pushing rule by citizens as constitution change raised
Rule by citizens: that ideal drew a leading Young New Zealand First member to be active in Winston Peters' party.
Of good public service and ways to perform it
Of good public service and ways to perform it
The constitution - the rules governing who has power and how it is used - has been back in focus this month.
Robertson's task is to shift the status quo
Robertson's task is to shift the status quo
Three National ministers and an MP proclaimed in Parliament last Wednesday their ``pride'' in what their Government has done on climate change. Really?
Some signs of trouble at the education mill
Some signs of trouble at the education mill
Trouble at t' mill! Teachers and Hekia Parata are in a standoff over ``global funding''. But is something bigger in the air?
More to migration than house prices
More to migration than house prices
Winston Peters has banged on about immigration for close to a quarter-century. In the 1996 election, it was his salient point of distinction, as Asian migrant numbers climbed.
Public sector transition - to what?
Public sector transition - to what?
Dorothy Adams, head of Bill English's social investment unit, is from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), has a State Services Commission (SSC) email address and is quartered in the Treasury. Meet the new public sector.
Relying on Band-Aids when a cure is required
Relying on Band-Aids when a cure is required
Winston Peters has taken to saying low interest rates discourage savers. He might add: they hurt his primary constituency.
Time to send a local message to Wellington
Time to send a local message to Wellington
On the sidelines of Britain's frenetic commentary on its Brexit vote has been a debate about the "regions'' and their councils. Was London, the capital, too up itself? Is Wellington?
Democracy is about the people, not the leaders
Democracy is about the people, not the leaders
If David Cameron had wanted a guide to the risk he was running in putting Britain's future with Europe to a referendum, he might have scanned Jim Bolger's mistake with MMP.
Centenarian Labour: dotage or new life?
Centenarian Labour: dotage or new life?
There is global turmoil and the forces on Labour's side of politics are divided.