How progressive will Ardern’s second term really be?

During Helen Clark’s second term, Don Brash’s Ōrewa speech saw National surge in the polls and the Labour government’s social policies tighten. Fifteen years years later, could history repeat? When a socially progressive party wins an overwhelming electoral mandate, it’s natural to wonder how long its luck will last. Will Labour really implement strong social … Read more

Ardern says she wants radical transformation. Time to start believing she means it

The countless working groups are a kind of stalking horse for a big change, and voters will get to decide come 2020, writes former National Party cabinet minister Wayne Mapp One of the things that is notable about this government is how so many of the ministers, from the prime minister down, signal their intent … Read more