Transport planners can do so much more with wheels on roads that it is hard to fathom their attachment to iron rails, writes John Roughan.

At what point precisely would a person ask a doctor for death? That is an important question for supporters of euthanasia to ask, writes John Roughan.

There is no point talking about changing the flag until we find one that says, yes, this is us, now, writes John Roughan. This might be the one.

A surplus, no matter how marginal, is an economic signal that matters. It says the country is well governed, writes John Roughan.

Amid all the chatter of parity this week, I heard not a word of credit given to those who changed the country, writes John Roughan.

The way NZ's native trees grow straight, high and succulently green is a fine, fertile expression of the country's natural character. I don't know how any of us can cut one down, writes John Roughan.

Nicky Hager's voice and manner are those of someone who is deeply shocked at the discovery of things that are interesting enough to report but are not really shocking, writes John Roughan.

I don't know what happened. Once, no other sport, except rugby in a different way, captivated me like cricket. I suspect I'm not alone in falling out of love with it.

New Chums Beach with its surrounding cliffs of regenerating native bush is worth preserving, writes John Roughan.

When the SIS comes to the Beehive it brings its briefing papers in a locked case and once the briefing is finished it gathers all the copies up, locks them back in the case and takes them away.

There is really no defence to a complaint of sexual harassment.

Sitting around the big table in Brisbane this weekend, the 20 leaders should take a good refreshing breath of the Pacific air, and drink plenty of the water.

So without enough to do, the elected body ponders long-term planning objectives and reads a great deal of paper on subjects such as environmental sustainability.

The consortium that pumps gas from the Maui offshore platforms appears to have been forgivably naughty.

Nicky Hager has claimed the rights of a journalist in response to the police search of his home, and I suppose he is one.

Have we ever seen a more stunning election result? Watching the campaign it was hard to believe the attack on the character of John Key would have no effect.

There is something to admire in Colin Craig. I disagree with just about every bullet point in his brochure but I like the character he shows as a complete outsider.

John Key nominated Sir Keith Holyoake a few weeks ago when the Herald asked all the party leaders to name their political "hero".

When Dame Susan Devoy was appointed Race Relations Commissioner last year, the intelligentsia sniffed at the choice of a squash champion.

What goes through the minds of educational professionals when they see the lengths that property owners will go to remain in a prestigious school zone?

Aucklanders are told something has to go if the mayor is to keep rates from rising beyond his election promise. Aucklanders should not listen to this, writes John Roughan.

Labour's grant of an extra $100 a year for each pupil for state-funded schools will probably succeed in ending charges for all but the richest schools and that would be a pity, writes John Roughan.

John Roughan writes: Nine months ago, I received an offer that gave me excitement and trepidation. Would I like to write a book on John Key? Would I!

We might not be any good at the game, and those who follow it from here might like its culture in England, but they should not pretend we are part of it, writes John Roughan.

John Key and Bill English both know it is not the surplus that really matters, it is the debt they have accumulated, writes John Roughan.

John Roughan asks; "Why is that so many car drivers haven't figured out how to use a merging lane? You see them every morning now that onramps are light controlled."

We would have seen far more on television but there is something about the briefest glimpse of real life that you never forget, writes John Roughan.