Latest from Politics

Danyl McLauchlan: Is health minister Simeon Brown up for the fight?
Simeon Brown's remedies for a broken health system seem no more likely to stick.

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: Winston Peters’ history is a history of his outrage
Have we found the secret to Winston Peters' eternal political life?

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: Indiana Luxon and the World’s Fastest Indian (Trade Deal)
The near-manic enthusiasm displayed during the PM's trip to India was something to behold.

Best intentions: The reasons leftist governments can’t build infrastructure
A captivation by governments with progressive causes stymies growth, claims a new book.

Danyl McLauchlan: Adrian Orr’s vanishing act
Adrian Orr’s hasty departure is symptomatic of the backlash against bureaucracy.

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: How can Luxon sell NZ, if he can’t sell himself?
For sheer commitment, PM might even deserve the chocolate fish for Salesman of the Year.

Danyl McLauchlan: How likely is the National Party to oust Luxon?
National is gloomily aware that Christopher Luxon is not the greatest of leaders.

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: Does “Marmite” Luxon just hate the poor?
Let them eat...marmite sandwiches! Luxon's response to school lunch debacle is tone deaf.

Danyl McLauchlan: Why Donald Trump is shunning Europe - and what it means for NZ
China and the US send ominous signals that NZ can no longer rest on soft-power laurels.

Chris Slane’s cartoon of the week
Chris Slane shares his perspective on the week in politics.

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: Does Luxon need an English-as-a-second language course?
Fears that PM is incapable of speaking normally reach fever pitch.

Govt turning to desperate measures to avoid being booted out after one term
Danyl McLauchlan on National realising, to its horror, voters may give it a single term.

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: Why “Everyone Must Go!” should be our national anthem
Could there be a more apt anthem to suit the moment?

Why we need to dial down rhetoric and ramp up reasoning on Regulatory Standards Bill
Proposals in Regulatory Standards Bill are examples of classical liberalism at work.

Danyl McLauchlan: A new world (dis)order
As geopolitical goalposts shift, govt needs to make some strategic calculations, quickly.

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.

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: Was Luxon a Waitangi “drop nuts” or a drop kick?
Much political symbolism in PM not turning up at Waitangi in 2025, none of it good.

Danyl McLauchlan: David Seymour once again pulls the rug out from under National
National's attempts to sell its growth agenda have been overshadowed.

Rocking the vote: Are we getting the democracy we deserve or being taken for a ride?
Democracy appears to be in crisis, so is systematic change the answer?

Greg Dixon’s Another Kind of Politics: Could Jacinda-mania be our economic savour?
To get NZ’s economy back on track, is it all aboard the Ardern bandwagon?

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.

Greg Dixon’s Another kind of politics: My wild political predictions for 2025
2025: More shock poll results, reshuffles & odd appointments, and meaningless actions.

Guyon Espiner: Is Christopher Luxon worried his party might reshuffle him?
It's a question no PM should be having to answer after just one year in the job.