A dark part of me hopes the government’s employment insurance scheme is enacted exactly as proposed. It will be terrible. Read more
The OECD’s country report for New Zealand always reveals sobering home truths. This year’s was no exception. Read more
Officially, New Zealand governments welcome overseas investment. In practice, they do much to thwart it, for no good reason. Read more
After weeks of waiting, a heavily abridged report into Downing Street’s party culture was finally published on Monday. The investigation was meant to determine whether UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his staff broke their own Government’s lockdown rules. Read more
Any student of classics would be familiar with the ancient Greek myth of Daedalus and his son Icarus. The pair used wax and feather wings to escape from the island of Crete. Read more
Toward the end of the classic Vietnam war film Apocalypse Now, Captain Willard finally found the object of his quest: the mad Colonel Kurtz. Kurtz asked whether Willard agreed with their superiors who believed that Kurtz’s methods were unsound. Read more
Last week’s announcement that inflation is at its highest level in more than 30 years was a shock. Consumer prices rose by 5.9% last year, the largest increase since June 1990. Read more
We are still five days ahead of Groundhog Day (celebrated on 2 February each year), yet we feel like we have been here before. Only Punxsutawney Phil and Andie MacDowell are missing. Read more
When something seems too good to be true, it usually is. New Zealand's apparently record-low unemployment figures are a classic case. Read more
Prudence is a virtue. Aristotle considered it among the nine most important. Read more
This is going to be a busy and difficult year for government. It is planning major changes to the health system, tertiary education, local government (the ‘Three Waters’), environmental rules and wage setting arrangements - while also struggling with COVID and the disaster which is housing policy. Read more
When 100,000 Russian troops are lining the border with Ukraine, an invasion must be imminent, right? Well, not so fast. Read more
February weather forecasting on the Canadian prairies was relatively simple. Southerlies brought warmth. Read more
Dear Commerce Commission. Why can’t I parallel import a house, one piece at a time? Read more
New Year’s and Christmas are traditional occasions to reminisce about the past twelve months and wonder what the next will bring. Looking in the back mirror is easier. Read more