Category Archives: New Zealand Politics

Posts that deal with issues current in New Zealand politics

A better term than ‘breeding for a business’

  Back in 2002, some years before scaling the heights to the Prime Ministerial summit, John Key said that Labour’s Domestic Purposes Benefit policy had led to a situation “where people have been, for want of a better term, breeding … Continue reading

Posted in Economics, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics, Welfare | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

Under cover, under hand and under the radar – ‘all about sport’ in Christchurch

The Prime Minister, John Key, has come out in favour of a “world-class covered stadium” for Christchurch. At the time of writing, opinion on the accompanying stuff poll is split 52% in favour and 48% opposed (485 votes). It has … Continue reading

Posted in Democracy, Earthquakes, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Disdaining democracy

All those years ago – you know, way back when John Key wasn’t the Prime Minister – the populace, so we found out, was getting restless. Its main complaint about the government of the day was that it was ‘off … Continue reading

Posted in Democracy, Economics, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

California dreaming

If the future form of Christchurch’s central city now hangs in the balance, the outcome will depend upon the weightings given to two quite distinct sets of ‘instincts’ about how to create a vibrant, sustainable, thriving city centre. One set … Continue reading

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, Free Market, Freedom, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Devils, details, dark arts and Trojan horses – Update

If confirmation were needed that “putting to one side” volume 2 of the Central City Plan is because the rules and regulations in them will be neutered, then here it is. Jo Kane on CTV’s ‘One on One‘ interview programme … Continue reading

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, Free Market, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Devils, details, dark arts and Trojan horses

Allow me a Cassandra moment. Like the Trojans in the midst of a decades long war, living in Christchurch is, for many people, an experience with precious little long-term hope. Many people have, however, invested a good deal of hope … Continue reading

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Christchurch’s Second Coming

“And what rough beast, its hour come round at last Slouches toward [Christchurch] to be born?” The ground is now being prepared for the future incarnation of Christchurch. What comes our way will bear the marks and influences of the … Continue reading

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, Fascism, Freedom, Human Wellbeing, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The banality of corruption

At the heart of the exotic and exciting spectacle of National Party luminaries engaging in their own version of the shootout at the OK Corral – and, in so doing, managing to take out one of their own – is … Continue reading

Posted in Freedom, Human Nature, New Zealand Politics, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

A lesson about community

Who would have thought that, in the saga that is the ‘recovery’ of Christchurch, it would be the Anglican Church that would give us the clearest example of the emptiness of modern expressions of ‘community’? When push came to shove … Continue reading

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, Free Market, Human Wellbeing, National Identity, New Zealand Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Not aspiring to a spire?

The earthquake has turned everything upside down. The Wizard is at war with the Anglican Church – and I’m in agreement with Councillor Jamie Gough. Whatever happened to life’s eternal certainties? Looks like we’d better not ask Bishop Matthews – she … Continue reading

Posted in Earthquakes, Economics, New Zealand Politics, Philosophy | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Not aspiring to a spire?