My dad just refitted his small cottage kitchen. He is over 6ft tall, so wanted the worktops raised 6 inches, precluding his need to bend. Read more
As House of Cards is ending in sad circumstances, the TV series has a real-life successor. It is the New Zealand House of Representatives. Read more
During the election campaign, newly sworn-in Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern named climate change as the challenge of her generation. If it is, lifting labour productivity is a close second. Read more
To put it mildly, the three parties forming the new government are diverse. Their philosophies do not always overlap. Read more
Idiocy comes in many forms. Some people choose not to vaccinate their children. Others think it better to extract multiple teeth from school children rather than have them drink fluoridated water. Read more
Why did the libertarian chicken cross the road? None of your business! Read more
In my previous piece for Interest, I wrote that government agencies’ response to the rising road toll was inadequate. The Ministry of Transport, the NZ Transport Agency and the Police each essentially blamed drivers. Read more
National’s supporters on the right could have been forgiven for expecting a lot after the 2008 election. After three terms of Helen Clark’s Labour government, and National’s opposition to Labour’s policies, they had a right to. Read more
Judging by its coalition agreements, the new Government’s unofficial motto is not to do everything differently but to do a lot of things better. But not every change is for the better. Read more
Our newly sworn-in Government has about 1000 days to deliver on its campaign promises. Fixing the education system will take more time. Read more
They say that you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But you sure can teach new dogs some old tricks. Read more
In the DC comic story, a flying Superman spies Lois Lane tied across a railroad line. A fast-moving passenger train is but metres away. Read more
A NZIER report released this week discredits a WorkSafe NZ safety programme that started in November 2011. The programme aims to reduce workplace falls from heights of below 3 metres. Read more
Almost a month after the election, New Zealand is about to have a new government. Yes, other countries take longer to negotiate coalitions. Read more
If no person’s life, liberty or property are safe while Parliament is in session, what’s the rush to have a new government? As I write this column, no coalition has been struck. Read more