Former deputy prime minister and Herald on Sunday columnist
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![Paula Bennett: It’s wrong to take cheap shots at public servants](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: It’s wrong to take cheap shots at public servants
OPINION: You get the best out of people by inspiring the best in them.
![Paula Bennett: We need to get out of the way and decentralise](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: We need to get out of the way and decentralise
OPINION: Too often it is who you know, not what you are doing that helps access funds.
![Paula Bennett: The cost of losing our No 8 wire mentality - we can't blame the Government](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: The cost of losing our No 8 wire mentality - we can't blame the Government
OPINION: We are experts at getting in our own way, over-regulating and making excuses.
![Paula Bennett: There’s a whole lot of grey in being a politician](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: There’s a whole lot of grey in being a politician
OPINION: Waitangi weekend is a good time to reflect on respect for each other.
![Young people on jobseeker benefits need sanctions - Paula Bennett](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Young people on jobseeker benefits need sanctions - Paula Bennett
OPINION: How can we accept that 34,000 young people are on benefits.
![Paula Bennett: Are we becoming too American?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Are we becoming too American?
OPINION: Is the political gap between left and right supporters becoming unbridgeable?
![Paula Bennett: Twas the night before Xmas and Parliament was leaking](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Twas the night before Xmas and Parliament was leaking
OPINION: Former Deputy PM pens a Christmas Eve poem.
![Paula Bennett: The Government has a plan, it just needs to implement it](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: The Government has a plan, it just needs to implement it
The new Government has been swiftly implementing its 100-day plan.
![Paula Bennett: My 'wild side' and the time Paddy Gower saved me from going viral](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: My 'wild side' and the time Paddy Gower saved me from going viral
If someone in a high-powered role is struggling with addiction, they should get help.
![Paula Bennett: Short on time, Labour gets tough on crime](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Short on time, Labour gets tough on crime
Opinion: 'Rushed' roll-out of youth and crime policies screams of desperation.
![Paula Bennett: Let me introduce you to the Lux I know](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Let me introduce you to the Lux I know
Opinion: Christopher Luxon has many attributes that I am happy for a leader to have.
![Paula Bennett: The harsh realities of Question Time in Parliament](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: The harsh realities of Question Time in Parliament
OPINION: 'Zip it, sweetie' didn't cut it with Trevor Mallard
![Paula Bennett: Why it's hard to be a white guy in NZ at the moment](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Why it's hard to be a white guy in NZ at the moment
OPINION: Paula Bennett Let's improve gender relations in a way that is understanding
![Paula Bennett: What sort of deals would Rawiri Waititi want in a coalition?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: What sort of deals would Rawiri Waititi want in a coalition?
OPINION: If Rawiri Waititi holds the balance of power at the election, what would it mean?
![Paula Bennett: No, Tory, the criticism isn’t because you’re a woman](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: No, Tory, the criticism isn’t because you’re a woman
Tory Whanau Mayor of Wellington has been criticised for missing meetings.
![Paula Bennett: Five offences in Jan Tinetti truancy data saga](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Five offences in Jan Tinetti truancy data saga
OPINION More than half of our kids don't attend school regularly - that's the top offence.
![Paula Bennett: More planning needs to go into high-density housing development](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: More planning needs to go into high-density housing development
Auckland suburbs are being spoiled by poor-quality housing developments
![Paula Bennett: Do you feel safer? I don't](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Do you feel safer? I don't
Every day we read about another ram raid, another burglary, another assault.
![Paula Bennett: Why Ayesha Verrall is wrong on Pharmac and cancer drugs](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Why Ayesha Verrall is wrong on Pharmac and cancer drugs
The Minister’s accusations are abhorrent and untrue.
![Paula Bennett: Did Meka Whaitiri leave Labour or did Labour leave her?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Did Meka Whaitiri leave Labour or did Labour leave her?
Leaving a party should be on fundamental political differences
!['They said my husband left me because I was so fat': Paula Bennett on the weight loss scam using her name](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
'They said my husband left me because I was so fat': Paula Bennett on the weight loss scam using her name
I’m angry, sick to death of my image, name and even my signature being used to scam people
![Paula Bennett: Reality speaks louder than words](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Reality speaks louder than words
Don't gaslight us; the health system is broken and crime is increasing.
![Paula Bennett: PM's mantra rings hollow as health system flounders](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: PM's mantra rings hollow as health system flounders
Reports this week said 5000 Kiwi nurses have registered to practise in Australia.
![Paula Bennett: What does it means to be a New Zealander?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: What does it means to be a New Zealander?
It feels like we are increasingly divided, and it doesn’t feel good.
![Paula Bennett: Marama Davidson needs to apologise to white cis men](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Marama Davidson needs to apologise to white cis men
OPINION: In her position of power, she could pull us together, not divide us.
![Paula Bennett: Gender equality is vital but not at the expense of our boys](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Gender equality is vital but not at the expense of our boys
The push for equality is vital, let’s make sure it is not at the expense of our boys.
![Paula Bennett: PM a chicken over Stuart Nash scandal](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: PM a chicken over Stuart Nash scandal
OPINION: Ex-Police Minister Stuart Nash went from rooster to feather duster this week.
![Paula Bennett: Female tradie told to wear bigger shirt to cover breasts](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Female tradie told to wear bigger shirt to cover breasts
Paula Bennett reflects on the highs and lows of being a woman.
![Paula Bennett: Another Chris Hipkins apology - 'sorry' is not enough, he needs to change](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Another Chris Hipkins apology - 'sorry' is not enough, he needs to change
If Hipkins could learn from previous mistakes he would not have to apologise so often.
![Paula Bennett: Keep up the fight, you are not alone](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Keep up the fight, you are not alone
Building resilience in times of chaos is helped by support of community
![Paula Bennett: The broken, the bruised and the guilty](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: The broken, the bruised and the guilty
How can I feel flat and over it all when I wasn’t directly affected by the cyclone?
![Paula Bennett: Govt mothballs unpopular policies; will they return?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Govt mothballs unpopular policies; will they return?
Polling will tell Labour that many of its policies are deeply unpopular.
![Paula Bennett: The changing of the guard - but not the tide](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: The changing of the guard - but not the tide
Will a new leader be enough to change Labour's decline in popularity?
![Paula Bennett: A snappy push to protect fish in the Hauraki Gulf](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: A snappy push to protect fish in the Hauraki Gulf
There's a snappy push to end to bottom trawling and scallop dredging on our doorstep.
![Paula Bennett: New Year resolutions are all about decisions, eventually](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: New Year resolutions are all about decisions, eventually
Self-improvement is good but there is no need to rush.
![Paula Bennett: ‘I went into mum mode’ - the day I broke up a fight](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: ‘I went into mum mode’ - the day I broke up a fight
Top five columns of the year from Paula Bennett.
![Paula Bennett: Give the gift of a gift this Christmas](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Give the gift of a gift this Christmas
Paula Bennett is a regifter - but gives it a lot of thought.
![Paula Bennett: 'Tis the season to be patient](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: 'Tis the season to be patient
The world won’t end if we don’t meet before Christmas, writes Paula Bennett
![Paula Bennett: Let’s talk safety and hope before age 16 vote](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Let’s talk safety and hope before age 16 vote
Talk of whether 16-year-olds can vote detracts from mental health, housing, crime issues.
![Paula Bennett: The year of youth offending](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: The year of youth offending
National’s youth offender military academies' proposal welcomed to tackle teen crime.
![Paula Bennett: A live example of how to bounce back](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: A live example of how to bounce back
Learning resilience helps your inner voice to be positive and get you through low times
![We need to pull together to get the best out of our people and this country’](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
We need to pull together to get the best out of our people and this country’
Co-governance isn't working with a separatist system, says Paula Bennett
![Paula Bennett: Youths have no respect for authority](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=808)
Paula Bennett: Youths have no respect for authority
Ram raids and violence will get worse if police don’t act.