Former defence minister Wayne Mapp talks to the Democracy Project’s Geoffrey Miller about Operation Burnham, foreign policy challenges for New Zealand and the potential impact of the election
Political analyst John AZ Moore joins the Democracy Project’s Geoffrey Miller to discuss recent articles on the Covid-19 response
Judith Collins is the new National Party leader: John A.Z. Moore joins the Democracy Project’s Geoffrey Miller to discuss the implications of National’s dramatic leadership change.
Green Party tax and welfare plans: John A.Z. Moore joins the Democracy Project’s Geoffrey Miller for an in-depth discussion of issues raised in an article by Dr. Bryce Edwards.
Hearing the Prime Minister castigate the Warehouse for laying off 1,000 workers after receiving $52 million in wage subsidies reminds me of the fabled frog who agreed to carry a scorpion across a river. The scorpion stings the frog halfway across, dooming both to drown. The frog cries “Why on earth did you do that?” …
No one could have predicted when David Seymour’s End of Life Choice Bill was passed by Parliament last November that the referendum required to bring the legislation into force would be held against the backdrop of a deadly global pandemic. Since then, the mounting tally of casualties around the world has thrust death and dying …
Critiquing Jacinda Ardern and Labour: John A.Z. Moore joins the Democracy Project’s Geoffrey Miller for an in-depth discussion of three articles by Cat MacLennan, Bryce Edwards and Graham Adams.
Former Act MP and Associate Minister of Defence Heather Roy joins the Democracy Project’s Geoffrey Miller to discuss the government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the new Defence Capability Plan and the current direction of New Zealand’s foreign policy.
By Geoffrey Miller A former MP and Associate Minister of Defence says that New Zealand’s Covid-19 border and quarantine issues illustrate why a new dedicated national security agency is needed. Heather Roy, a former deputy leader of the Act Party who held the associate defence portfolio from 2008-10, told the Democracy Project podcast that a …
What is the Government thinking ? The Herald on Sunday reported that a $371 million government contract for the electrification of the Papakura to Pukekohe rail line was awarded to overseas companies, said to be a joint bid from Chinese-owned firm John Holland and South-African-owned McConnell Dowell. Construction companies Fletcher and Downer, which were originally …
A fantastic thing happened during the lockdown. We eliminated rough sleeping in New Zealand. It took a few weeks. “It feels like an amazing achievement” one community worker told the media. “It is something we couldn’t have dreamed of being possible or actually happening two months ago.” It certain was amazing, especially when you consider …
New Zealand’s history as a sheep-farming nation means the command “Get in behind!” has long had a particular resonance — but not usually for journalists. However, in late March, as panic over the coronavirus pandemic surged around the world, Dr Gavin Ellis — former editor-in-chief of the NZ Herald — recommended that the media should …
In mid-April, as New Zealand entered its fourth week of alert level 4, the Prime Minister warned us not to make comparisons with other countries over our Covid-19 pandemic response. This extraordinary advice came after Simon Bridges had urged the government to adopt a less-stringent lockdown similar to those in some Australian states. He told …
“Every day, we see the powers that promulgate laws that oblige one to take certain routes and [those] that do not follow these indications or do not want them to be part of their legislation, are accused and politely persecuted” – Pope Francis What does the Government’s decision to limit religious services to ten people …
How radical or transformative is Grant Robertson’s 2020 Budget? Opinions are divided over this week’s landmark economic package. Some are viewing the big spend as a return to traditional Labour – or even socialist – politics, while others see it as “business as usual”, albeit on a grander scale. Seeing red Leftwing political commentator Chris …
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield at their daily media briefings make a point of publicly thanking different groups of essential workers. Cleaners, supermarket workers, caregivers and others have been singled out for their crucial role in keeping Aotearoa New Zealand functioning during the pandemic. Indeed, the entire country now understands …
Approximately 2.8 million of Aotearoa New Zealand’s 4.9 million residents are now beneficiaries. That figure is made up of 1.7 million workers who are wage subsidy recipients; 781,000 people receiving New Zealand Superannuation; 175,000 Kiwis on jobseeker support; and 160,000 receiving other benefits. On top of that, documents leaked to Radio New Zealand show that …
In assessing the effectiveness of the Government’s response to the Covid-19 threat it is important to distinguish between responsiveness and preparedness. The better the former, the greater the likelihood of glossing over weaknesses in the latter. New Zealand’s response to Covid-19 has been extraordinary. Compared with much of the rest of the world we have …
Never let a crisis go to waste, the cliché goes. Which is why, given predictions of a serous economic slump, some of prime minister Jacinda Ardern’s stalwart supporters are urging her to remake the economy for the better. But those hoping that the PM will embark upon a Hugo Chavez-style rejection of the neoliberal paradigm …
As is often the case with crises, the coronavirus pandemic has been a boon for New Zealand’s political leadership. Jacinda Ardern’s decisive and effective health response to the virus has garnered both New Zealand and herself adoring headlines around the world, particularly in countries starving for basic governmental competence. New Zealand’s exceptional handling of the …
We must of course have equality of treatment, patients with this virus will be treated for free, and they’ll be treated as part of a single, national hospital service. These were the words of the Irish health minister Simon Harris when he announced the nationalisation of all private hospitals for the duration of the Covid …
