To begin with an anecdote, a Western diplomat recently told me about a meeting he once had with a Chinese counterpart. They both wanted to discuss issues relating to the Pacific Islands. Read more
Radical leftists like the Greek government under Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and nationalist right-wingers like France’s National Front do not have many things in common. However, they can both hope to be supported by Moscow. Read more
I have never been a fan of the old prayer wishing confusion upon one’s opponents. In a real war, your enemy’s confusion helps. Read more
At a recently held women’s conference, organisers requested that attendees stop clapping and do ‘feminist jazz hands’ instead...because the applause was triggering some people’s anxiety. In slightly less absurd feminist news, the ‘#BanBossy’ campaign seeks to ban the word ‘bossy’ on the basis that it deters young women from pursuing leadership roles. Read more
According to Dilbert comic creator Scott Adams, in his recent book How to fail at almost everything and still win big: Kind of the story of my life, passion and goals are way overrated. Passion is pointless, he says. Read more
Maintaining fiscal discipline is certainly difficult. Resisting the temptation to increase spending, particularly during an economic boom, is something that governments worldwide grapple with. Read more
Your property rights count for very little under the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA), yet they count for a great deal under New Zealand’s Public Works Acts (PWA) that date back to the 19th century. If the government dictates the future use of your land under the PWA ,you are entitled to compensation but not if it does so under the RMA. Read more
A higher kiwi dollar could boost New Zealand exporters’ productivity, leaving them better off in the long run. Earlier this month the kiwi reached a record high against the euro, trading at a whisker under 70c – the highest level the kiwi has been valued against European currency since its inception. Read more
Among the most sought after locations you find in Sydney is the inner-city suburb of Pyrmont. It is not only home to headquarters of major companies such as American Express, Accenture, Vodafone, and Google. Read more
Among the most sought after locations you find in Sydney is the inner-city suburb of Pyrmont. It is not only home to headquarters of major companies such as American Express, Accenture, Vodafone, and Google. Read more
On Monday the Initiative launched From Red Tape to Green Gold, our second report on the mineral estate in New Zealand and the regulations that constrain it, specifically the Resource Management Act. The report makes three recommendations. Read more
Harry Potter had a profound influence on my childhood. While I was never one of those kids who expected a letter from Hogwarts on their eleventh birthday, I did enjoy the books immensely. Read more
If the latest signals coming from the Federal Reserve are anything to go by, it is only a matter of time until the US central bank increases its funds rate. Most likely it is going to happen some time over the northern hemisphere summer. Read more
For years, we have been warned that New Zealand is facing a manufacturing crisis. The Kiwi dollar’s high exchange rate would hurt exporters and drive industrial activities out of New Zealand. Read more
In just over a week’s time we will find out whether all the work that Environment Minister Nick Smith and his team have put into the latest round of Resource Management Act (RMA) reforms will ever see the light of day. That is when voters in Northland will decide whether to let the National Party maintain its effective majority in Parliament or opt for a bit of something different in the form of Winston Peters and New Zealand First. Read more