Terror in Chch Time to recall MPs’ anti-migrant rhetoric In the wake of the Christchurch attacks, it’s time to look at how politicians talk about Islam. Jan 02 2020 Thomas Coughlan
Comment Why Hong Kong matters now The 21st anniversary of China taking possession of Hong Kong was marked by protest, rather than celebration and for good reason, writes Thomas Coughlan. Jul 08 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Transport Inside NZTA’s terrible year It’s been less than a year since the sky fell on NZTA. Thomas Coughlan looks at what went wrong and what the future might hold. Jul 05 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Economy Key warns capital move would cut GDP by 20% ANZ has forecast a total GDP fall in today’s money terms of 20 percent of GDP if the Reserve Bank goes ahead with its proposal to hold more risk capital. Jul 02 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Government PM & Martin: why we didn’t watch video Jacinda Ardern and Tracey Martin defend their decision not to view a video of a child uplift, as sweeping changes to Oranga Tamariki come into force. Jul 01 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Government Banks could face $22b safety bill Treasury has costed the Government’s deposit protection scheme at $2.7 billion, that comes on top of a $20 billion Reserve Bank plan to makes banks safer. Jun 28 2019 Thomas Coughlan
environment Stats paint picture of the country we’re killing The second release of landmark environmental data from Statistics NZ show how little has been done to reduce emissions over the past decade. Jun 28 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Government Report urges more MPs and new select committees Parliament is too small, and committees too poorly resourced, to properly hold the Government to account, review says. Jun 25 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Government $850m needed for Interisland ferries The Government has announced where its $1 billion of KiwiRail funding will be spent, but more is needed to replace Cook Strait ferries. Jun 25 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Corporate Are the banks too safe — or not safe enough? The Government has unveiled a plan to protect depositors in the event of a bank collapse, but key questions have not yet been answered. Jun 25 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Budget Robertson signals even more wellbeing budgeting Future budgets will see the existing spending, as well as new spending, subjected to a wellbeing analysis, Robertson says at OECD report launch. Jun 25 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Media Chinese NZ Herald retracts misleading article The Chinese New Zealand Herald is in the spotlight for publishing and then retracting an article about the Hong Kong protests. Jun 23 2019 Thomas Coughlan and Laura Walters
Housing When Newsroom briefed the Govt on KiwiBuild Treasury used a Newsroom story to remind ministers they couldn’t sell Crown land on the cheap for KiwiBuild. Jun 20 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Government Robertson’s $50 billion debt buffer The Minister of Finance was accused of imprudence when he suggested the Government’s next debt target could be as high as 25 percent, but he actually undercut Treasury’s suggestion by as much as $50b. Jun 19 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Government Peters ‘admires courage’ of Hong Kong protesters After a week of silence, New Zealand has finally made a statement on the unrest in Hong Kong. Jun 19 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Government Robertson censures Key over junior staffer remarks Grant Robertson has said ANZ shareholders and staff will judge David Hisco’s expenses dispute, and censured former PM John Key. Jun 18 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Comment Will ACT’s policy let you Seymour of your income? ACT’s tax changes would increase income taxes on more people than even the Green Party’s 2017 policy, but there is merit to the flat tax. Jun 18 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Housing Build-to-rent - it’s all about tax Phil Twyford says build-to-rent could be a part of the solution to the housing crisis. Does he have the power to make it work? Jun 17 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Infrastructure Jones tees off on local government Shane Jones says he is sick of local government frustrating plans for new infrastructure. Jun 14 2019 Thomas Coughlan
Government My, my: the mystery of Treasury’s Project ABBA The Finance Minister is all about money, money, money - so why did he receive a briefing about “Project ABBA”? Jun 13 2019 Thomas Coughlan
