Rob Rattenbury
Columnist
Rob Rattenbury is retired and lives in Whanganui. He recently published a book about his years with the police.
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Check out Rob’s latest content
Rob Rattenbury: Are NZ cops paid enough?
OPINION: NZ police are being enticed across the ditch.
Rob Rattenbury: Whanganui’s flash rush hour
Opinion: In 10 minutes Whanganui had gone from Sleepy Hollow to a bad day on the motorway.
Rob Rattenbury: A tribute to Whanganui East
OPINION: We've always been east bank people. It's got something for everyone.
Rob Rattenbury: ‘I turned 9 in state care and felt powerless’
OPINION: 'Remember the voices of the victims. They did nothing wrong.'
Rob Rattenbury: What is New Zealand’s dress code?
OPINION: What does our dress sense say about us as a country?
Rob Rattenbury: Investment in ferries vital
OPINION: We can't afford not to replace the Interislander ferries.
Rob Rattenbury: How Covid changed our lives
OPINION: Some businesses are still struggling to return to normal trading figures.
Rob Rattenbury: Dating days are a distant memory
OPINION: Five decades since his dating days, women are still a mystery to Rob Rattenbury.
Rob Rattenbury: Granddaughters changed our lives
OPINION: Some may say they are spoiled. Well, just a bit.
Rob Rattenbury: Why New Zealand is a great place for road trips
OPINION: Road trips have always been our thing.
Rob Rattenbury: Fishing is an age-old human activity
Rods, lines, reels, bait, waders, nets, boats. The list is long for the keen fisherperson.
Rob Rattenbury: Cycling through the memories of a great sport
OPINION: I'd never get rid of my bikes.
Rob Rattenbury: A truant of some repute
OPINION: I do not remember much about my fourth-form year.
Rob Rattenbury: Life on Whanganui’s East side
OPINION: We never set out to live in Whanganui East but that is how it turned out.
Rob Rattenbury: New fridge a chance to start afresh
Rob Rattenbury: All was not well with the great white monster.
When wood fire was everything in our homes
OPINION: The wood box in the lounge or living room had to be kept full.
Rob Rattenbury: Annoying potholes a symptom of a far bigger issue
OPINION: Big government needs to take responsibility at times.
Rob Rattenbury: A public engagement
'We knew it was coming... they both turned up late morning with a bottle of bubbles.'
Rob Rattenbury: We want the best treaty outcomes
OPINION: We all want our country to thrive.
Whanganui’s town centre can amaze visitors
OPINION: People from outside of Whanganui are really surprised
Rob Rattenbury: Years seem to be rolling around much quicker
OPINION: I would expect our politics to dominate the news for a while.
Rob Rattenbury: How mentors shape our lives
Comment: Others help parents raise their children without often even being aware of it.
Rob Rattenbury: Times have changed but fish n' chips are still for me
What's your favourite takeaway?
Rob Rattenbury: A sleepy hamlet and a beautiful lake
OPINION: "Everywhere one looks in Whanganui, one sees history".
Rob Rattenbury: Matthew Perry was a friend to us all
OPINION: All too often, we see shining bright stars fade away long before their time.
Rob Rattenbury on Israel-Hamas war: I'm worried about where this will end this time
'The history of both sides is tragic, to say the least.'
Rob Rattenbury: Every politician has their day
OPINION: Politicians come and go, they have their moments in the sun then usually fade.
Rob Rattenbury: Remembering when we were all joggers
OPINION: The streets were filled with people running here, there and everywhere.
Rob Rattenbury: Participating in the election not to be taken for granted
OPINION: We all know change can take forever, even in our little democracy.
Rob Rattenbury: Schools entrench strong networks
OPINION: We knew all the stories, the jokes, the traditions.
Rob Rattenbury: What Six60′s Pepeha means to me
Being a New Zealander can be a complex business.
Rob Rattenbury: It’s a matter of faith
OPINION: Many in New Zealand society have moved on from active religious worship.
Rob Rattenbury: Shopping a doddle with quieter pace of life
OPINION: A bad traffic day is when Rob Rattenbury gets two red lights at the city bridge.
Rob Rattenbury: At some point you find a home forever
OPINION: 'I put Supertramp on the stereo and wound it up. We are here and here to stay.'
Rob Rattenbury: Lest we forget
Rob Rattenbury pays tribute to those who serve so we can live in freedom.
Rob Rattenbury: Morvin Simon dramatically shifted my horizons
A course in te ao Māori was a gamechanger for Rob Rattenbury.
Rob Rattenbury: US is a beautiful but complex nation
The investigation into the attack on the US Capitol is well underway
Opinion | Labour looks soft on gangs, dithering on law and order
OPINION: There's a lot going on for Labour heading into an election year next year.
Rob Rattenbury: Pākehā need to be trusted with referendum on He Puapua
OPINION: We need a referendum on He Puapua, because progress depends on public support.
Rob Rattenbury: Climate change is a sleeping giant that needs our attention
Opinion: By the time the world cottons on to climate change it may be too late.
1981 Springbok Tour: Former cop recalls being on duty for Hamilton match
"The few police on the embankment were brushed aside like feathers."
Rob Rattenbury: How pervasive is white supremacy in NZ?
OPINION: White supremacists do exist in our country, though hopefully not in great numbers
Rob Rattenbury: How New Zealanders could show their patriotism
"I love my country... but I have never felt the need to shout it from the rooftops."
Rob Rattenbury: A reckoning is coming over the history of New Zealand
COMMENT: Many will feel ashamed about what they learn, writes Rob Rattenbury.
Comment: What a mission getting in and out of Wellington
Our two-hour journey can be increased to nearly three if we pick the wrong time to travel.
Rob Rattenbury: Why names are important - it's about respect
This is not about a cultural difference; it is about respect and thoughtfulness.
Best of 2020: Don't deny it: White privilege still exists, and it's ugly
Most Pākehā, when told about this concept, are shocked and go into denial.
Comment: Why it's time to ditch the royal family
Comment: Having a Head of State who is a foreigner seems archaic in a democracy.