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Walking backwards off the cliff

Written By: - Date published: 1:36 pm, May 22nd, 2026 - 6 comments

The coming oil shock is not just about oil. The future is baked in, and its not good. National’s backward-looking budget will make it much worse.

Do We Still Want Socialism? 

Written By: - Date published: 8:55 am, May 22nd, 2026 - 32 comments

There are still those who pine, from the readership of Jacinda Ardern’s biography, for a state that is perfectly kind, does everything with speed and authority, and brims with patrician wisdom for us all.  Her 1.5 terms held many instances in which the state operated on the extremes of control to respond to massive crises.

Does the centre left need Te Pāti Māori to win the election?

Written By: - Date published: 7:14 pm, May 9th, 2026 - 55 comments

Does the centre left need Te Pāti Māori to win the election?

Yes Test Before Getting NZ Super

Written By: - Date published: 9:36 am, May 2nd, 2026 - 83 comments

Superannuation is the ultimate Don’t Go There of New Zealand politics. But unless this benefit becomes means tested rather than subsidises rich asset-hoarding old people, it is going to sink every other part of the government. 

I didn’t vote for Jacinda but can I say sorry on behalf of

Written By: - Date published: 1:15 pm, April 30th, 2026 - 40 comments

Opinion – Jacinda Ardern was a great Prime Minister and her loss was actually ours.

As stable as a three legged stool?

Written By: - Date published: 10:36 am, April 26th, 2026 - 46 comments

The Peters-Willis-Jones stoush during the past week underlines the importance of Labour indicating that it will not go into coalition with NZ First after the next election.

Uncertain Futures and Political Change

Written By: - Date published: 5:54 pm, April 21st, 2026 - 65 comments

The world is turned upside down and challenges progressive politics to change gear.

I could be completely wrong, but…

Written By: - Date published: 3:17 pm, April 18th, 2026 - 36 comments

My hunch is that Luxon stands down as Prime Minister, to be replaced by Mark Mitchell.

Changing government in 2026

Written By: - Date published: 9:45 am, April 17th, 2026 - 48 comments

We need to stop slagging off the people who have the only chance of forming a centre left government this year.

Labour Gains Ground

Written By: - Date published: 1:49 pm, March 6th, 2026 - 10 comments

Latest poll results show a gain of 10 seats by Labour but don’t forget the voter disenfranchisement laws and NZME’s Editorial Direction is still to come

Don’t fight the last war

Written By: - Date published: 5:53 pm, February 28th, 2026 - 29 comments

Hannah Spencer’s stunning win for the Greens in the the UK’s Gorton and Denton by-election has some lessons for political strategists here as well.

Game on: Labour and the Greens speak to media from Waitangi

Written By: - Date published: 2:28 pm, February 3rd, 2026 - 28 comments

Chris Hipkins, Marama Davidson, and Chloe Swarbrick speak on unity, working together while being separate partners, and the upcoming election.

What does Labour do about Winston?

Written By: - Date published: 2:29 pm, February 1st, 2026 - 61 comments

Current polling suggests that we may witness something that has not happened before, a one term National Government. But this may mean Labour making a deal with Winston Peters. What should Labour do?

The rise of Winston follows the rise of Pauline Hansen and Nigel Farage

Written By: - Date published: 6:05 am, January 25th, 2026 - 47 comments

Ten months to go and there is no political party currently countering the sustained rise of New Zealand First.

Some random predictions for 2026 …

Written By: - Date published: 10:22 am, January 2nd, 2026 - 8 comments

What will election year 2026 bring to Aotearoa?

Politician of the year?

Written By: - Date published: 9:39 am, December 31st, 2025 - 3 comments

Chris Bishop is thought by some to be the politician of the year, mainly for drafting a couple of bills plaigarised from the work of David Parker and untested promises to build hugely expensive roads of National significance. But they are ignoring the most extraordinary performance by an opposition leader in recent decades.

Peters spits the dummy over India Free Trade deal

Written By: - Date published: 7:54 am, December 24th, 2025 - 22 comments

“National preferred doing a quick, low-quality deal over doing the hard work necessary to get a fair deal that delivers for both New Zealanders and Indians.”

Holy feck

Written By: - Date published: 8:10 pm, December 17th, 2025 - 22 comments

The last poll of the political year and it is a doozie. Labour is 8 points ahead of National.

It’s Changed Too Much For The Nostalgia Cure

Written By: - Date published: 10:23 am, December 14th, 2025 - 13 comments

If Labour wins government in 2026, many things won’t be recoverable.

Privatisation and Plunder

Written By: - Date published: 4:36 pm, December 9th, 2025 - 3 comments

Privatisation and Plunder is essential reading for those who want to work for a society where prosperity for all is the aim.

Why the next election will not be easy for Labour

Written By: - Date published: 12:12 pm, December 7th, 2025 - 27 comments

This may be a one term National Government. But electoral law reform, the state of Labour’s coalition partners, a possible economic upturn and a change in National’s leader threaten this.

Labour Gets Ready To Win Election 2026

Written By: - Date published: 1:08 pm, November 29th, 2025 - 60 comments

Labour has recovered from the 26.9% vote share hiding it received in 2023, and is ready to run government again. 

76% of Kiwis rate National Coalition poor to neutral

Written By: - Date published: 10:49 am, November 17th, 2025 - 5 comments

Government hits a NEW low today after hitting a previous record low in February 2025

The cult of reasonableness

Written By: - Date published: 8:08 am, November 11th, 2025 - 36 comments

Labour’s capital gains tax isn’t the end of the debate — it’s the beginning of a reckoning. The left’s real problem isn’t its policy. It’s the cult of reasonableness that’s made conviction sound impolite.

Some Number 8 Fencing Wire in Gaza

Written By: - Date published: 4:01 pm, November 7th, 2025 - 10 comments

The importance of a New Zealand focus
on the rebuild of Gaza.

CGT – The Empire strikes back

Written By: - Date published: 10:06 am, October 30th, 2025 - 140 comments

The usual voices have publicly attacked Labour’s proposed Capital Gains Tax using arguments that do not stack up.

Tax: the debate must continue

Written By: - Date published: 10:35 am, October 28th, 2025 - 46 comments

Today’s leak of Labour’s tax policy is unsurprising. The later Robertson and long-term Parker views are lost. And this position is at odds with much of the thinking in the Labour Party.

Is that it?

Written By: - Date published: 8:13 am, October 28th, 2025 - 151 comments

Labour’s Capital Gains Tax has been released in less than an optimal manner. And the policy is more modest than some would have liked.

Labour’s Future Fund is full of promise

Written By: - Date published: 1:09 pm, October 21st, 2025 - 6 comments

Labour’s first cornerstone policy is a solid start

Labour’s Sub-Therapeutic Dose for Economic Sickness

Written By: - Date published: 6:41 pm, October 20th, 2025 - 53 comments

Why is Labour proposing $200 million for a growth fund when New Zealand First got $3 billion?

Hayek’s Acolytes and History’s Judgement

Written By: - Date published: 1:02 pm, October 18th, 2025 - 44 comments

While we should acknowledge Jim Bolger’s life of service to New Zealand we should also recognise the critical and continuing damage done to New Zealand by his government.