The Ombudsman, the minister and the curious OIA request
There is government tension over the Official Information Act.
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Latest fromDemocracy
Watch NZH Local Focus: Councillors defend $2 million Foxton facelift
Foxton main street causes a stir. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Who wins in media merger rejection?
COMMENT: Is democracy the winner or loser from last week's media merger decision?
Why the Queen may be lonely without Duke
Editorial: The Duke of Edinburgh's retirement is a watershed moment for the monarchy.
Trump: Damaging democracy
COMMENT: Brian Klaas argues that Donald Trump has proved a unique threat to democracy.
Unesco: We can all defeat 'fake' news
COMMENT: Press Freedom Day is a reminder that critical minds can overcome "fake(d)" news.
Stewart: Sour old men love bitter whine
Comment: Elderly, white males are as pesky, autumnal flies for Rachel Stewart.
Are we in the final days of democracy?
COMMENT: Democratic values appear to have entered a death spiral, writes Rachel Stewart.
Watch NZH Local Focus: Horowhenua council divided
The new mayor is polorising the community. Made with funding from NZ On Air.
Children's petition restores monkey bars
A petition signed by 210 children has restored monkey bars to climb on in Grey Lynn Park
Kim Jong-un's plan if US attacks
North Korea has been secretly training elite special forces to kidnap Westerners.
Compulsory voting no answer to low turnout
COMMENT: Instead of compulsion, perhaps we should check out what Sweden did.
Make it illegal not to vote: Former PM
Sir Geoffrey Palmer sat down with Guyon Espiner to talk about his days as Prime Minister.
Watch NZH Local Focus: Woman forced to give up child speaks out
Maggie gave birth to her daughter in 1964 in Otahuhu - and didn't see her for 18 years.
No quick-fixes to Maori representation
Abuse of Andrew Judd an unpleasant reminder of how far NZ still has to come on race relations.
Richard Shaw: She'll be right. Won't she?
A month in, and the damage caused by the presidency of Donald Trump is piling up. Three features of the new United States Administration's
White House bars news outlets
The White House on Friday barred news outlets - including CNN, the New York Times and Los Angeles Times - from attending a press briefing.
Brian Rudman: Why the young don't vote
COMMENT: Willie Jackson is on a crusade to drag poor and young non-voters into political system for "the health of our democracy." And good luck to him.
Lawrence Yule successful in National bid
Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule is the National Party candidate for Tukituki.
Why you can't call President Trump a liar
There's a growing number of media calling out President Donald Trump for saying things that aren't true. But does that make him a liar?
Lizzie Marvelly: It's your move, oldies
COMMENT: If we had more people in Parliament who would live long enough to experience the results of their actions, we'd all be better off.
Yule 'should have been more upfront'
Ratepayers are set to pay between $90,000 and $100,000 if Hastings mayor Lawrence Yule is selected as the National Party's Tukituki
Political Roundup: Avoiding complacency about corruption
NZ can celebrate being pronounced the least corrupt country in the world. But that doesn't mean we should be complacent, writes Bryce Edwards.
Political Roundup: The liberal vs left divide over Willie Jackson
There is a deep divide within the Labour Party - and it's no longer the straightforward division between the left and right of the party, writes Bryce Edwards.
The need for age diversity in Parliament
Political Roundup: The attempted return of several older politicians to Parliament in 2017 has sparked some debate about the merits of young, middle-aged, or older MPs for democracy. Surely we need them all.
Rodney Hide: Trump trumps naysayers
Trump hysteria has become a parody in which the screamiest and stupidest attacks become headlines.
UN Resolution on Israel condemned by Kiwis
To the sound of 200-300 voices chanting "live, live, Israel, resolution go to Hell", Hawke's Bay pastor Nigel Woodley stood outside
NZ stance on Israel condemned
Hawke's Bay protesters travel to Wellington to vent fury at UN resolution.
Trump tells China to keep stolen drone
President-elect Donald Trump's tweeting could prolong one of the most serious incidents between the US and Chinese militaries in recent memory.
New spirit of openness on Tauranga council
The abolition of secret briefings has been labelled dubbed a victory for democracy by re-elected Tauranga city councillor Rick Curach. He
Rodney Hide: Revelling in Trump's victory
COMMENT: I am still revelling in Donald Trump's victory.
Will Trump effect be felt Downunder too?
COMMENT: Does the success of outsider Republican nominee Donald Trump signal the time for a political revolution in Godzone too?
Tommy Kapai: Can we right our wrongs?
How could we have got it so wrong? The pollsters and the politicians, the analysts, theorists and columnists - especially this one
Alan Duff: Damn lies, and liberal media
COMMENT: Every reader and viewer saw headlines like 'mathematical impossibility' that Trump could win enough electoral votes.