Will 2025 be any different from 2024 in respect of the gun lobby’s influence over the National-ACT-NZ First coalition government’s firearms policy? This question now has a sharper focus with the Government’s intention this year to rewrite the Arms Act 1983. This legislation is administered by the Ministry of Justice. It is a reasonable questionContinue reading “When Politics gets in the Pocket of the Gun Lobby”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Imperialism, the Chagos Islands and the fight to return
I have just finished reading Tariq Ali’s excellent book Winston Churchill: His Times, His Crimes (Verso, London, 2021). Although with a chronological structure, it is thematic. It places the crimes of Churchill (these were many and horrific) in the context of the times in which they were situated. Tariq Ali’s book on Winston Churchill aContinue reading “Imperialism, the Chagos Islands and the fight to return”
Haka, Hikoi and the Empowerment of the Kohanga Generation
Internationally at least the haka is most associated with Aotearoa New Zealand’s national men’s rugby team, the All Blacks. It immediately preceded the start of test matches. The haka is a customary Māori way of welcoming visitors but traditionally also served to invigorate warriors as they headed into battle. It is both a show ofContinue reading “Haka, Hikoi and the Empowerment of the Kohanga Generation”
Changing face of capitalism: private equity threat to New Zealand economy
The Reserve Bank is “watching” the expansion of private equity in Aotearoa New Zealand in light of alarm bells being run by financial regulators globally. These alarm bells included no less than the European Central Bank and Bank of England over possible risks to financial stability by the rise of private equity, including their lendingContinue reading “Changing face of capitalism: private equity threat to New Zealand economy”
New Zealand’s shameful modern slavery shutdown
Slaves had existed in both ancient Greece and the Roman Empire. However, the word ‘slavery’ has a subsequent Latin origin, ‘sclava’, meaning “Slavonic captive in reference to the 9th-century slavery of Slavonic people. Over time it came to mean anyone in captivity, not just Slavs (nor for that matter, those in Greece or the RomanContinue reading “New Zealand’s shameful modern slavery shutdown”
Fast-tracking wealth accumulation and the ‘war on nature’
The Fast-Track Approvals Bill currently before Parliament is up there with the most controversial decisions of the National-ACT-New Zealand First coalition government. This coalition, elected a year ago, is one of the most right-wing governments Aotearoa New Zealand has ever had. One has to go back to the National government elected in 1990 to findContinue reading “Fast-tracking wealth accumulation and the ‘war on nature’”
Why Socialism (why not New Zealand)
When people think of the German born Albert Einstein (1879–1955) usually this would be as the theoretical physicist who is widely held as one of the most influential scientists in the world. They would think of him being best known for developing the theory of relativity. Some would also be aware of his important contributions toContinue reading “Why Socialism (why not New Zealand)”
Careful what you ask for Labour Party: following UK Labour not smart politics
Labour leader Chris Hipkins is presently in the United Kingdom to learn from the British Labour Party led by new Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Although Leaders of the Opposition are entitled to an annual overseas study trip (Chris Hipkins also went to the UK last year), this one has attracted more than usual media interest,Continue reading “Careful what you ask for Labour Party: following UK Labour not smart politics”
An email that almost says it all
The term ‘social wage’ was once used a lot in public discourse in Aotearoa New Zealand but much less so in recent years. Whereas ‘wage’ is what employers pay employees for their labour, ‘social wage’ usually means public expenditure on health, education, housing and social welfare. Without expressly using the term, public interest business journalistContinue reading “An email that almost says it all”
Towards an economy based on provision of human needs
A critical feature in Karl Marx’s theoretical construct of political economy provides a valuable insight on how economies in countries such as Aotearoa New Zealand, function and how they might function better in order to achieve the well-being of their peoples. This construct begins with the statement that any product begins first with both aContinue reading “Towards an economy based on provision of human needs”
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