In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 24

Posted 12:32pm Sunday 20th September 2015 by Henry Napier

Jacinda Ardern is young, popular and a woman. Those qualities have been entirely absent from the Labour Party leadership since Helen left. It’s about time they were brought back. The last four leaders of the Labour Party have been relatively interchangeable, at least on the surface. Phil Read more...

Peters says Men Should Defend Their Own Country

Posted 11:15am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Henry Napier

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has called for male refugees from Syria to return home and help their country fight ISIS.  Last week Peters threw his support behind the emergency one-off intake of an extra 600 refugees from Syria, as well as a further 150 over the next three years. Read more...

Bill Concludes Five Treaty Settlements

Posted 11:18am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Henry Napier

Four Te Huki iwi have concluded Treaty of Waitangi settlements following the enactment of the Te Huki Claims Settlement Bill.  The four iwi are Ngāti Kuri, Te Aupōuri, Ngāi Takoto and Te Rarawa. The bill was accompanied by another Treaty settlement, which gave effect to a Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 23

Posted 11:21am Sunday 13th September 2015 by Henry Napier

I get the distinct feeling that protesters against the TPPA are mostly gullible idealists with little idea of the reality of government or international relations. I don’t profess to be an authority, or even an expert. However, I feel justified in saying that I am intelligent enough to Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 22

Posted 11:45am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Henry Napier

The ideological distinction between the left and right has taken a blow, raising an interesting question: does it exist at all? 3 News recently ran a story about Labour’s associate education spokesperson Kelvin Davis attending a fundraiser for a Northland charter school, a decision that Read more...

Labour Calls for Refugee Quota Increase

Posted 11:36am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Henry Napier

The Labour Party has called on the government to increase New Zealand’s refugee quota. A recent press release urges that the 750 quota be increased by 250–500 people per year. The recent surge in refugees leaving Syria has placed pressure on countries around the region. The European Read more...

No Plans to Accelerate Spending

Posted 11:40am Sunday 6th September 2015 by Hugh Baird

The government is confident that a slide in global markets this week does not spell recession for the country. Speaking to the media on Tuesday 1 September in the wake of “black Monday”, which saw markets around the world plummet, neither Key nor English believed that a slowing Read more...

Claim for Auckland Unlikely to be Heard

Posted 11:13am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Henry Napier

The Māori King has launched a Treaty claim for the wider Auckland area. Speaking at his annual coronation two weeks ago, King Tuheitia addressed the Kīngitanga’s new claim for sovereignty over the city. The king spoke to an audience of over 1000 people, including Prime Minister Read more...

Health and Safety Bill Has “Fundamental Flaws”

Posted 11:16am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Henry Napier

The Health and Safety Reform Bill was back in the spotlight last week following a 14-hour parliamentary debate. The bill will now continue to its third reading where it is likely to pass into law. Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Michael Woodhouse, the minister in charge of the bill, has Read more...

In My Opinion: Henry’s word | Issue 21

Posted 11:19am Sunday 30th August 2015 by Henry Napier

I was talking to my mum last week about New Zealand politics, and on the topic of the Labour Party she said: “I still can’t figure Labour out, what do they stand for?” As my mother often does, she hit the nail on the head. Labour has had, and continues to have, trouble Read more...