Referenda is Democracy
The bleating, bitter recriminations and speculation about why people voted in the two referenda, run in association with the recent general election, have thankfully finally died. In… Read More »Referenda is Democracy
Blog
NZ general election 2020 results
There will be attempts to define the collective will of voters by us commentators and we are fortunate that we are not selected and easily ignored. Which is precisely how should be. After more than half a century of observing people and politics this move to the political left however was dramatic enough to demand comment.
Cannabis Law Change not worth it
We are being asked to approve something which is potentially harmful to at least some vulnerable people so that others can get high. Given that there are so many other ways for people to enjoy themselves, legalising cannabis is probably not a good idea.
Tipping the scale with Māori seats is only patronising and divisive
Has the Tauranga City Council embarked on a new era of inclusiveness with the decision to establish a Māori Ward for the 2022 local government… Read More »Tipping the scale with Māori seats is only patronising and divisive
Saving the Home in hard times.
It is difficult to understand why so many people are taking the unnecessary risk of losing their homes through unmanaged mortgage default when a rescue package is available simply for the asking.
No room for politics in pandemics
We won the first round against Covid-19 on points only. We took a bit of a hammering and collected a few bruises in the process but the fight is far from over. We also dodged a few low blows from some in the audience who wanted the government to drop its guard and relax border controls.
Fanciful Tales of History
Have we become a little too sensitive about our history? Riding in on the coat tails of an ill-informed public stoush over monuments to New… Read More »Fanciful Tales of History
More korero, less shouting on preserving our history
Monuments and memories of the past have been in the news in recent weeks and on almost all occasions for all the wrong reasons. It… Read More »More korero, less shouting on preserving our history
Government support for Gambling hard to justify
As many New Zealanders and business owners burst their boilers and bubbles trying to return to some form of normality after Covid-19 we have the opportunity to decide at least some of the elements which will make up that new normal. There seems little doubt that we will have to become more self-reliant than we have been for the past century or more
Pandemic – a chance to re-set NZ tourism
Last week Tourism Minister Kelvin Davis launched a project in which Government and industry leaders will work together on a plan to restart tourism. They should not forget that we have been priced out of, and crowded out of, our favourite outdoor places for far too long by tourists while the industry ignored pleas to slow down and reduce the harm. Instead, with single minded determination, the industry went courting ever greater numbers each year with the misleading Clean Green propaganda message