Danyl McLauchlan is a politics writer, feature writer and book reviewer for the NZ Listener
Danyl Mclauchlan is a Wellington based writer. He studied biology, computer science and creative non-fiction at Victoria University. He's published two novels and a book of essays, and primarily writes about politics, economics, science and culture. And dogs.
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Danyl McLauchlan: A new world (dis)order
As geopolitical goalposts shift, govt needs to make some strategic calculations, quickly.
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Acting up: Danyl McLauchlan on David Seymour’s next bill
Act’s power has grown massively, and Seymour's meddling aims to take this further.
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Danyl McLauchlan: David Seymour once again pulls the rug out from under National
National's attempts to sell its growth agenda have been overshadowed.
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Economics 101: Danyl McLauchlan on the coalition’s wake-up call
The coalition may have to confront unappetising policies to stir the economy into life.
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The twilight of NZ journalism? Google, Big Tech and breaking news
With Big Tech blocking a rescue plan for NZ media, who will hold the powerful to account?
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Luxonomics: Danyl McLauchlan weighs up an uncertain 2025 in politics
In 2025, the best we can hope for is a combination of best and worst-case scenarios.
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Oppenheimer to Trump: Danyl McLauchlan on how tech titans & risk-takers are rocking politics
Today’s tech titans have a chutzpah reminiscent of the scientists behind the atomic bomb.
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Danyl McLauchlan: The year in politics
There's only one winner of the coveted I’m Entitled to This Award Award.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Science or economics? Collins’ Marsden Fund shift raises questions
Cuts aplenty, but there’s no new money for much-needed long-term investment in science.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Hopes of a robust post-recession recovery are fading
Neither the political left nor right seems capable of delivering what it promises.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Govt turns a blind eye to the structural problems crippling NZ
Does Luxon’s wealth insulate him from grasping the problems we need to solve?
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Danyl McLauchlan on the PM's hīkoi horror
Our CEO PM is struggling to hold the centre-right for National.
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Courtiers & codpieces: How Hilary Mantel foretold the rise of Trump
Why Donald Trump is much like another world-historical figure: King Henry VIII.
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Danyl McLauchlan: The one govt action on abuse in state care that could trigger seismic shockwaves
Despite apology, without accountability there is no incentive for change.
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Danyl McLauchlan: How is Casey Costello able to keep her job?
Health is a top issue for voters, yet the govt continues defending pro-tobacco decisions.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Donald Trump’s victory could be a sign of our political future
The US election has been impossible to ignore, even though we have no say over the result.
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Why economies fail: Stark lessons for NZ from a 2024 Nobel Prize winner
Nobel laureate Daron Acemoglu’s theories on why economies fail should make Kiwis nervous.
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Wellington Council’s government intervention: A long history of incompetence
Incompetence stretching back years lies at the heart of the paralysis in Wellington.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Crouching Kiwi, hidden tax breaks
An NZ economy that aspires to be like Singapore’s might have to borrow tax policies.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Why the govt's fast-track bill could turn into its own Three Waters debacle
Risks of cronyism claims and speed wobbles could create potential pitfalls.
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Danyl McLauchlan: The government cuts that won’t heal
Backflip on Dunedin’s new hospital contrasts with willingness to pour billions into roads.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Our politicians agree a four-year term is better so why don't voters?
We should be talking about wider changes to our democracy, not just the length of terms.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Crisis or opportunity? Electrification could transform NZ’s energy landscape
Expert report finds salvation in green energy switch, so why aren't our leaders listening?
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Danyl McLauchlan: Doomed debate around Act’s Treaty Principles Bill turns up heat on polarising issue
Like Don Corleone in The Godfather, Seymour’s offer to Māori is this: nothing.
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Schools' shake-up: What some find ‘terrifying’ about govt plans for charter schools
Do charter schools offer NZ an opportunity or is there a bigger agenda at play?
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Danyl McLauchlan: Will our political parties ever work together on infrastructure?
The major parties cancel each other’s grand projects nearly every time the govt changes.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Local councils are a perfect target for a government desperate to find scapegoats
Centralisation is emerging as a grand theme of this coalition’s approach.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Lives are about to become translated into long-term assets and liabilities
National hopes to force ministries to see their charges as people rather than case files.
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Danyl McLauchlan: The balance of power
In our own exclusive Olympics of national decline, energy shortage surges out of the gates
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Danyl McLauchlan: Sacrifices may be called for if Greens are to flourish
Darlene Tana follows the standard go-rogue script, but do the Greens have deeper issues?
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1984 Revolution part I: The rise of Rogernomics and how it still shapes NZ lives
The 1984 election marked a sea change for NZ, then on the brink of bankruptcy.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Could the coalition government face allegations of corruption?
The coalition's clampdown on "liberal overreach" could have unexpected consequences.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Politicians may not like the daily news media, but they’ll miss them when they’re gone
A government lifeline for preserving balanced journalism might be a little late in coming.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Why The Opportunities Party could still be a force to be reckoned with
All the party needs is a leader, a campaign, and a lot of money.
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Danyl McLauchlan: The great blotting-out of key Labour policies has been accomplished
Expect more plaudits for PM Christopher Luxon’s next 100-day plan.
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Efeso Collins’ death and Grant Robertson’s retirement mark the beginning of a new era
The future of NZ will look more like South Auckland and a lot less like Wellington.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Where’s the political courage to mete out tough love to the wealthy?
Beneficiaries are in the firing line again.
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Danyl McLauchlan: It’s been a summer of discontent for the coalition government
The PM will be hoping for calmer times ahead.
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Danyl McLauchlan: The National MPs we can expect to see more of when the government is announced
Who runs National and what will they do with their newly won political power?
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Danyl McLauchlan: How strategic conservatives have made NZ First a political force
MMP has spawned a group of voters who act as a handbrake on the left and the right.
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Danyl McLauchlan: What’s influencing modern politics?
"The state can help people, but it can also waste incredible amounts of money."
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Danyl McLauchlan: Labour left few policies behind that will provide a lasting legacy
The party lost the election in spectacular fashion.
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Danyl McLauchlan: The urgent issues that just won’t wait any longer
National faces a number of problems – none of which will be easy to solve.
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Symbolic victories and bombshell defeats. Welcome to the new challenges of a fragmented future
Anxious wait for special votes count could force Luxon to deal with Peters.
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Danyl McLauchlan: How the major parties’ fortunes waxed and waned ahead of the election
Comeback king Winston Peters has played his cards right, leaving uncertainty in his wake.
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Danyl McLauchlan: The major parties don’t have the answers to NZ’s failing infrastructure and housing crisis
The winners and losers in the party policy stakes.
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Danyl McLauchlan: A week of squabbles, scandals and harassment
As advance voting starts, National releases its manifesto and the PM gets Covid.
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Cost of Living Part 2: Why is living in NZ is so expensive?
The expectation of rising prices becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
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The genetic lottery: Are our lives determined at birth?
Controversial book suggests success or failure is hard-coded in our genes.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Scraps, pledges and a shopping list of policy commitments
As politicians continue tussling, poll results are causing voters to think strategically.
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Our parties marketing-oriented approach to policy is raising problems for voters
Today, political parties curate gigantic databases of information about voters wants.
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Danyl McLauchlan: A week of prospects, protests and possibilities
With three weeks to go, parties reveal their power partnerships
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What you need to know in politics: Polls, false claims and tax policy hole
As voting day nears, Labour continues to lose voters amid spouting false claims.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Why Labour’s support has disintegrated
Looking back at polling trends suggests that the 2023 budget was the turning point.
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Cost of living crisis: Which party would serve you better?
Inflation kills govts, so what are the parties’ solutions and how do they benefit voters?
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What you need to know in politics: Campaigns launch, hecklers and attack ads
Both major parties have kicked off their campaigns as promises continue to roll out.
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‘Corrections does not correct’: Victim advocate’s solutions for broken justice system
Ruth Money more funding for victim support could help stop the cycle of crime.
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Home detention failures and rise of violent crime: What are the govt's solutions?
The tide is going out on effective justice reform and rehabilitation for young offenders.
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What you need to know in politics: Interruptions, parties ruled out and tax
Major parties make major announcements as election day draws closer for voters.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Although large, National’s tax package doesn’t change much
No vision of how economy may generate more wealth or how to solve any long-term problems.
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What you need to know in politics: Labour takes dramatic fall
No matter what promises Labour makes, they keep taking hits in the polls.
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New science explains the rise of political instability, oligarchy and elites
Scientist has been able to identify cycles of stability and violence across human history.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Labour’s food GST exemption a rotten policy
Labour doesn’t want to help people on low incomes buy food: it wants to win the election.
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What you need to know in politics: New policies ignore ‘bread and butter’ issues
Political parties come out with range of policies, but none cover “bread & butter” issues.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Labour’s new party list shows who’s valuable (and who isn’t)
Low rankings a gentle suggestion that MPs should do something else with their life.
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Political week in review: Kiri Allan saga raises questions about ‘toxic’ political culture
Why has the government haemorrhaged ministers during an election year?
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Dr Shane Reti’s DIY approach no match for vast, dysfunctional bureaucracy
Gang house reception may have been gracious, but health bureaucracy could be more brutal.
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Danyl McLauchlan: Kiri Allan the architect of her own downfall
Allan’s career is almost certainly over and this is both a personal and political tragedy.
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Danyl McLauchlan: The opaque nature of political lobbying in NZ
With all that charm, it’s easy to forget that these people are deeply political actors.