In Brief
Calls to raise the retirement age or introduce means-testing for the pension are growing. But is there really a retirement crisis, or has the debate been driven by flawed assumptions and vested interests? Since the days of the First Labour Government, a universal pension has been a cornerstone of
In Brief
Climate change and war are usually treated as separate issues. Journalist Abby Martin says they're inseparable. One of the defining but often overlooked facts of our time is the extraordinary footprint of the US military, whose 800 or so bases encircle the planet. These bases help make the
In Brief
New Zealand's media has been under pressure for decades. Now the government is putting the boot in. How did we get here – and what does it mean for democracy? Journalism everywhere is on the retreat as newsrooms shrink, media ownership concentrates, and a tidal wave of clickbait and
In Brief
A proposal to lease the operation of Lyttelton Port to a consortium led by global ports giant DP World has reignited debate over the future of one of Christchurch's most valuable public assets. In the 1990s, the head of the Business Roundtable dubbed New Zealand's second
In Brief
The Pike River disaster was meant to transform workplace safety in New Zealand. Fifteen years on, journalist Rebecca Macfie says that consensus is unravelling – and the country is forgetting the lessons that cost 29 men their lives. For a time after the Pike River disaster, it seemed that a new
In Brief
The government is backing down on the most controversial part of its proposed conservation reforms. But New Zealand's conservation estate remains under threat, conservation advocate Bianca Ranson says. Last month, the government's Conservation Amendment Bill passed its first reading, heralding what ministers described as the biggest
In Brief
New Zealand's richest now hold wealth equivalent to almost a third of the country's annual economic output. What does that tell us about how our economy works? The release of the latest edition of The National Business Review's annual Rich List this week has
In Brief
Max Harris is one of New Zealand's leading progressive thinkers. Now he's running for Parliament – for the Labour Party. Is that a sign Labour is changing? This week Labour released its candidate list for the 2026 election, and among the new names, perhaps one stood out
In Brief
What began as a story about the government's climate policy has turned into something much bigger: a story about corporate lobbying, access to political power, and now allegations of a cover-up. Political commentator Bryce Edwards believes it could also change how New Zealand thinks about its democracy.
In Brief
The government says Budget 2026 is about fiscal responsibility. Economist Tayla Forward says its fixation on debt and surplus risks deepening New Zealand's economic woes. The government's 2026 Budget has been sold as a lesson in restraint. Branded a "no sugar hits" Budget, Finance
In Brief
As rates rise and infrastructure crumbles, Unions Wellington is calling for council services to be brought back in-house — arguing outsourcing has failed both workers and ratepayers. So, can the privatisation of local government be reversed in the capital? Local councils in New Zealand are trapped in an impossible position.
In Brief
The free fees scheme for tertiary students never went far enough, and its demise highlights chronic issues of underfunding for universities and polytechs, says Tertiary Education Union president. The coalition Government’s decision to scrap the fees-free tertiary education scheme has ignited debate about student debt, access to university,