4 Jun: NZ’s Local Government Act requires councillors to put local concerns first. But local politics is rife with party affiliation, and tensions are likely to increase.... more
3 Jun: For the public service, strikes are generally a last resort. But there are other sources of union power – in particular, deep connections to the voting public.... more
3 Jun: New Zealand's managed to avoid being dictated to by the US - which has told our neighbour and Five Eyes ally to lift defence spending to to 3.5 percent of GDP... more
3 Jun: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer tells the UK the "moment has arrived to transform how we defend ourselves" but has not given a date when UK defence spending will rise to 3 per cent of GDP.... more