NZ eagerly courted Africa in its Security Council campaign. Now it must stand up for Africans

A state of emergency has just been declared in Ethiopia amid anti-government protest. The true colours of New Zealand’s diplomatic commitments will be shown in its response to the state crackdown, write Nureddin Abdurahman and Malcolm McKinnon Through the early part of this decade the New Zealand government carried out a sustained campaign for one … Read more

John Key’s latest refugee remarks are a facepalming litany of wrongness

On the world stage at the UN, the prime minister attempted to appear the global statesman. But following Obama’s pledge on resettlement, Key produced a series of clangers, argues Murdoch Stephens of the Doing Our Bit campaign. At the weekend both The Nation and Q+A interviewed John Key in New York, fresh from his address … Read more

Get your shit together, world – John Key’s big speech at the United Nations, in 150 words

The prime minister took to the stage at the UN General Assembly in New York today. Watch a video of his address, and read the completely mature digested version. If the video fails to load, you can always click here to watch. Gidday world. I’m from New Zealand and I’m here to tell you to … Read more

Is it all over for Helen Clark in the race to be next UN secretary general?

Straw poll results have been disappointing for NZ’s candidate. But the process is complex and the die not yet cast, writes former NZ ambassador to the UN Terence O’Brien The selection of the next United Nations secretary general is being conducted this year according to a new formula which extends a greater role to the … Read more

Two hours, 88 questions, and just one baring of teeth: on Helen Clark’s massive job interview (+ video)

Helen Clark faced the United Nations overnight in a marathon session in New York to pitch her case for becoming the next secretary-general. Former Herald editor-in-chief Tim Murphy set the alarm to watch. It was billed as the “Job Interview in Front of the Whole World”. Live-streamed from the United Nations in New York, one … Read more

Helen Clark’s path to the top at the UN is strewn with potholes

Were it down to competence, ability and integrity, the former NZ PM would be all but a shoo-in for Secretary General. But it’s much less straightforward than that, writes former NZ ambassador to the UN Terence O’Brien Helen Clark’s bid to be next UN Secretary General is now official. It is hardly a surprise. Speculation … Read more

Books: The Monday Extract – Helen Clark, Brian Edwards, Denis Welch and political editor Mikey Havoc

Helen Clark and the media: it’s like a thesis subject. She cowed them, bossed them, milked them. How did she get away with it? Extracts from Helen Clark: Inside Stories by Claudia Pond Eyley and Dan Salmon explore the phenomenon, with views from Clark’s former media advisor and (authorised) biographer Brian Edwards and journalist and … Read more

Politics: John Key at the UN – Watch the Full Speech, or Read the 15-Second Version

Earlier today the New Zealand prime minister delivered his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Here’s the whole thingamy: It was fairly brief, as far as these sorts of things go, but we know how busy you are, so we’ve boiled it down to a snackable 100 words: Mr President. The … Read more

Politics: Photochop – John Key Catches Up Really Quickly with Barack Obama at the UN

Unpicking the meaning in a picture of the prime minister standing in reasonably close proximity with Potus. The New Zealand prime minister, John Key, is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, or the “UNGA games” as the event is probably not known. He had hoped to catch a moment with the US … Read more