OPINION

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) has released its annual threat assessment, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s national security posture. This year’s report signals a dramatic shift from the approach of recent years, not just in its content but also in its unprecedented candour. Read more

There are a couple of ways to solve a problem like the Court of Appeal’s ruling that four Uber drivers are employees rather than contractors. Either of them would work. Read more

People with office jobs typically find it hard to explain what they do. Government officials are no exception. Read more

Last week, an Uber driver surprised me in a conversation about the recent Court of Appeal decision classifying four Uber drivers as employees rather than contractors. My driver was blunt. Read more

Local councils and central government are in some financial difficulty. They own and operate many commercial assets with mixed objectives and mixed success. Read more

No longer content with only overseeing human enterprises, the Commerce Commission has set its eyes on perfecting New Zealand’s flora and fauna. “We have found unfair advantages in New Zealand’s ecosystems,” said a Commission spokesperson. Read more

On Sunday, Germany experienced a political earthquake. For the first time since 1933, a far-right party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), became the largest party in a state election. Read more

Academic freedom is an essential ingredient in any flourishing university system. It allows ideas to be put forward and debated, and thus underpins high-quality research and teaching. Read more

Misguided good intentions paved the way for this winter’s energy crisis. Fortunately, the country has avoided blackouts. Read more

New Zealand often reminds me of The Shire, the peaceful abode of the hobbits in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books. Read more

Classic-era Simpsons episodes may not have had the solutions to all of life’s problems, but they did get a few things right. Be sceptical of monorail salesmen. Read more

A short walk from Wellington’s shiny Tākina Convention Centre, a burst water main floods Kent Terrace. This contrast between impressive civic buildings and failing infrastructure captures local government's challenge: finding a balance between ambition, financial responsibility, independence and accountability. Read more

A Bargain Chemist in Upper Hutt has been unable to dispense prescriptions since it opened in 2022. Its website simply notes “Prescriptions not currently available”. Read more

Captain Williard’s response to Colonel Kurtz’s question about his methods, in Apocalypse Now, is among the most classic lines in cinema. Kurtz, who had clearly gone mad, asked Willard whether Willard saw Kurtz’s methods as unsound. Read more

“We have become a corporate body concerned about brand image in a content marketing world in a climate of cancel culture,” lamented one academic. “I feel my job is at risk if I question the direction the university is taking. Read more