Posturing is not policy. How the West doomed Ukraine.

Written By: Guest post - Date published: 1:04 pm, March 24th, 2025 - 126 comments
Categories: Diplomacy, Disarmament, Europe, nuclear war, Peace, Russia, Ukraine, war - Tags:

As any rookie strategist knows, outcome-focussed policy is based around the alignment of ends, ways and means: what you set as your goals must be matched with a clear strategy and the necessary resources to achieve them. Ukraine as a Western proxy war has proven a massive failure on all three counts.

Henry Kissinger nailed it back in 2014: “For the West, the demonization of Vladimir Putin is not a policy; it is an alibi for the absence of one.” The former US Secretary of State was cautioning the West against using Ukraine as a proxy for East-West confrontation. He was ignored and the US and EU abandoned a more nuanced approach to diplomacy in favour of a massive militarisation of Ukraine. In January 2022, the West rejected Russia’s central demand for a written guarantee that Ukraine would not join NATO. The Russian army crossed the border a month later.

NATO’s Project Ukraine crossed what US Ambassador to Moscow William Burns called “the reddest of red lines” for the entire Russian political establishment. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians and Russians are dead; the West is staring into the face of defeat on the battlefield; Ukraine is shattered and will take generations to recover; an economically wounded and divided Europe seems to be having a mental break-down; and, whenever the war finally ends, Ukraine will face harsh conditions imposed on it, ironically, by both the US and Russia.

Ends, Ways and Means. Why the West is worse than rookies

The entire Western elite from the US President through to people like Boris Johnson, Macron, Starmer, Von der Leyen and co had in recent years become obsessed with what Kissinger derided as posturing over policy.

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He suggested the West and Russia “should return to examining outcomes, not compete in posturing” in order to solve the Ukrainian crisis. So let’s assess those ends, ways and means.

Fail: the end goal was a pipe dream

The West’s goals in the war were variously stated as regime change in Russia, dismemberment of the Russian federation, the crushing of the Russian economy, defeat on the battlefield and the reconquest of all territory, including Crimea. Ukraine, they all said, was on an irreversible course to NATO membership. Such were the dreams of warriors.

Fail: the way to victory didn’t exist

To the contrarians like me, the Western “ways” – its strategy and tactics – seemed daft. Given Russia saw the conflict as existential, in the highly unlikely event of Western success on the battlefield, the war risked escalating to the nuclear level, perhaps limited to tactical nukes, perhaps not.

Which triggers the paradox: the closer the West got to military success, the closer the West got to nuclear war. In the end, Russia was able to eviscerate the Ukrainian counter-offensive of 2023 which failed to even cross the first of a series of Russian defensive lines. Roads and fields in eastern Ukraine were littered with billions of dollars of brand new Bradley fighting vehicles, Leopard tanks, other expensive kit and, most tragically, tens of thousands of bodies. With the exception of the successful but strategically misguided Kursk incursion into Russia, now eliminated, the Ukrainians have been slowly pushed back and teeter on the edge of collapse.

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Fail: the means to victory just weren’t there

Despite the invocations of a few madmen generals and politicians, the West committed few boots on the ground. The Ukrainians did the fighting and dying; the West supplied the resources. The contrarian military analysts like Mark Sleboda and Colonels Danny Davis and Douglas MacGregor pointed out the futility of this approach, pitting the Ukrainians up against a Russian army that was more numerous, better equipped and, once it overcame teething problems, more lethal.

The West also lost the military industrial competition as Russia had a significant advantage in stockpiles of artillery and an arms industry that could both innovate and ramp up production in ways the profit-driven suppliers in the West simply could not.

Russia was strategically superior to the West

In contrast, Russia’s ends, ways and means were conceived and executed more effectively. The West, for example, chose dramatic, headline-grabbing tactics like the Kursk incursion; the Russians contented themselves with attrition warfare.

Consequently their core goals are likely to be realised: an end to NATO expansion, return to Ukrainian neutrality, incorporation of at least four ethnic Russian oblasts plus Crimea into Russia, protections for ethnic Russians remaining in Ukraine, and limits on its military. Given the dramatic shift in the EU to becoming a military bloc – Russia could possibly seek to veto Ukrainian membership of the EU which previously had been acceptable to them.

None of this will be pleasing to many people in the West but realist analysis is not about comforting illusions; it is about facing harsh truths and navigating a path to a better world for everyone.

It is time to put aside the propaganda

It is time to de-demonise Russia and to start the process of normalising relations with the super-power to achieve the best outcome for all parties, particularly Ukraine. Vilification is useful to mobilise support amongst the gullible masses at the start of and during wars, but when peace comes it is time to put aside the propaganda. The Russians, if victorious, will not be sipping coffee in Vienna next week nor marching into Piccadilly Circus. As Glenn Diesen has pointed out many times, Russia’s focus and future lies firmly in building a prosperous Eurasia and ushering in a multipolar world.

All the mainstream experts, four-star generals and Western leaders foolishly miscalculated and, as former US Ambassador Chas Freeman predicted, callously tried to fight to the last Ukrainian. War, with all its horrible consequences, should not be undertaken if the result is likely to be a worse end state than you could have achieved through diplomacy. So who got it right?

The analysis of those virtually barred from the mainstream media has been proven correct. People like John Mearsheimer, Danny Davis, Glenn Diesen, Brian Beletic, Mark Sleboda, Alexander Mercouris, Rachel Blevins, Geoff Roberts, Chas Freeman, Pascal Lottaz, Ray McGovern, Larry Wilkerson and, dare I say it, myself, saw long ago where this was heading: Russia could not and would not be defeated in a war on their borders which they saw as necessary to overcome an existential threat. Mearsheimer predicted with great accuracy a decade ago what would happen, why it would happen, and why it could and should have been avoided.

The West developed over decades a sickening obsession with moralistic narratives combined with endless violence that usually achieved the opposite of their stated objectives – think of Vietnam, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq and now Ukraine.

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It is high time for the West to get off its high horse and have the intelligence and decency to make peace with Russia and end the Israeli-Western genocide of the Palestinian people, not to mention the brutal assaults on Yemen and Lebanon that has stripped it of all preaching rights.

Eugene Doyle

Eugene Doyle is a writer based in Wellington. He has written extensively on the Middle East, as well as peace and security issues in the Asia Pacific region. He hosts the public policy platform solidarity.co.nz.

The view from Russia

Long time commenter, grumpy, has had this post from a russian friend explaining his view on what has been happening in the Ukraine. As this event has excited considerable comment over the last few months, this will probably be a good discussion post.

2 August 2014

Russian roulette

Vladimir Putin has effectively conceded that the Ukraine war is not going well for Russia by seeking to conscript 300,000 new soldiers, planning for referenda in Russian held areas and threatening the use of Nuclear weapons if Russia's modified territorial integrity is threatened.

23 September 2022

Arrest Blair’s Mate

The downing of Malaysian Airlines MH17 was a Russian sponsored war crime. When will Vladimir Putin be arrested? UPDATE: Animation and actual photos and video of the BUK launcher added.

29 September 2016

126 comments on “Posturing is not policy. How the West doomed Ukraine. ”

Comment on post

Res Publica 1

24 March 2025 at 1:14 pm

Ohh, dueling posts!

This is a masterclass in what I was originally critiquing in my essay over the weekend: the seductive pull of geopolitical realism morphing into moral relativism — all dressed up as nuance.

You frame this as a war of Western hubris and Russian strategic discipline. And sure, there's truth to be found in critiquing Western foreign policy. But what’s striking is the asymmetry in your moral concern. You walk us through “ends, ways, and means” in Ukraine like it’s a seminar room at a War College, but there’s not a whisper about Russia’s own ends: the erasure of Ukrainian sovereignty, the annexation of territory, the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure.

Let’s be clear: acknowledging U.S. hypocrisy does not require becoming a court stenographer for the Russian General Staff.

This kind of selective “realism” is what has gutted the credibility of the anti-imperialist left for decades: the inability to hold multiple powers accountable without lapsing into soft justification for one of them.

You quote Kissinger. I’ll quote Orwell: "Pacifism is objectively pro-Fascist." Today, the updated version reads: "Uncritical realism is objectively pro-authoritarian."

Yes, we need a less hubristic, more pluralist foreign policy. But let’s not pretend that means neutrality between a democratic state defending its territory and an autocracy seeking to erase it.

And neither should we indulge the fantasy that Ukraine, or any of the former Soviet bloc states, are mindless puppets with no strategic aims or independent agency. That’s the same old Stalinist erasure of smaller nations dressed up in multipolar drag.

And just to bring this back to Earth: almost none of this matters electorally. The average kiwi voter isn’t game-theorizing NATO’s deterrence posture or replaying Mearsheimer lectures: they’re wondering if they’ll afford rent or feed their kids next month.

If the Left wants to win anything real, it should stop simping for despots and start speaking to people’s material realities.

Because here’s the kicker: this entire framework , where the world is carved up into imperial spheres and everyone is either a proxy or pawn, is deeply reductionist. It erases the agency of smaller nations, dismisses the democratic will of working people outside the West, and reduces internationalism to a grim board game of “who's worse.”

That’s not nuance: that’s just ideological cosplay masquerading as strategy.

Reply
- adam 1.1
  
  24 March 2025 at 4:02 pm
  
  You come across as warmonger.
  
  You say want what to represent what working people want – they don't want their children sucked into wars for imperialists and corporate cock suckers. Because you seem to not want to engage with reality – try this speech and see if you can gleam anything from it.
  
  Working people want fair wages and good quality of life, – your war mongering mates in Ukrainian have stripped Ukrainians of those things. And the longer the war goes on, the more Ukrainians will be stripped of every right they had.
  
  So here is a major reality check for you – don't be disabled in Ukrainian because they really don't give a shit. Lets not forget the sick reality – Russia is evil to disabled (spot the gaps in the link) as well.
  
  And before you go on and on like you probably will in your usual fubar strawman way. No, I don't support Russia, yes I think authoritarians are fuckwits. As I think of most smug assholes who think they are right all the time.
  
  More importantly, "War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means." ~ Carl von Clausewitz – with many of our so called leaders are willing to pull the lever on war, rather than actually engage in the hard work of diplomacy and compromise. So it's a bit hard to read to your smug rants when you won't actually stand up for working people, and decry anyone who wants to end stupid wars and keep our leaders held to account.
  
  Reply
  - Res Publica 1.1.1
    
    24 March 2025 at 8:09 pm
    
    And you come across as the smuggest of assholes — the kind who thinks quoting Clausewitz makes them a geopolitical sage, while parroting Kremlin-adjacent talking points with all the nuance of Winston Peters after a bottle of single malt.
    
    Let’s cut the crap: the only warmongering happening here is Russia’s.
    
    Ukraine didn’t wake up one day and decide to cosplay NATO. They got invaded. Their cities shelled, civilians slaughtered, children kidnapped, infrastructure reduced to rubble. All because an ageing autocrat with nukes and a nostalgia boner for the USSR decided reality was optional.
    
    You want to talk about working people? Tell that to the factory workers turned soldiers. The mothers giving birth in bomb shelters. The pensioners rebuilding their homes for the third time because “diplomacy” apparently means "let the tanks roll in unopposed. Just as long as it’s not your suburb."
    
    And yes, war is politics by other means — in this case, the politics of fascist land grabs and revanchist fever dreams. Ukraine did try diplomacy. They gave up their nukes for paper promises. They even swallowed the theft of Crimea as a grotesque injustice they couldn’t stop: all while Putin smiled for the cameras and quietly prepared for a full-scale invasion.
    
    Where was your reverence for dialogue then? When Crimea was annexed? When MH17 was blown out of the sky? When the streets of Bucha were filled with bodies?
    
    You rant about “warmongers” like you've uncovered some hidden truth, but all you're really doing is offering rhetorical reacharounds to the man actually dropping bombs.
    
    You're not anti-war. You're just anti-democracy — and too much of a coward to say it out loud.
    
    And while you’re busy flailing around about “corporate cock suckers” like a teenager who just discovered Noam Chomsky (who, frankly, was a far better linguist than he ever was a political thinker), the rest of us are out here grappling with actual complexity: climate collapse, democratic erosion, surveillance capitalism, the slow-motion extinction of nuance itself.
    
    You know, grown-up problems. Try engaging with one of them sometime.
    
    Reply
    - Kevin Welsh 1.1.1.1
      
      24 March 2025 at 8:59 pm
      
      "Ukraine didn’t wake up one day and decide to cosplay NATO. They got invaded. Their cities shelled, civilians slaughtered, children kidnapped, infrastructure reduced to rubble." –
      
      And what happened between 2014 and 2022?
      
      Reply
      - Psycho Milt 1.1.1.1.1
        
        24 March 2025 at 9:27 pm
        
        What happened between 2014 and 2022? They also got invaded, their cities shelled, civilians slaughtered, children kidnapped, infrastructure reduced to rubble, just on a much smaller, more localised scale.
        
        Reply
      - Res Publica 1.1.1.1.2
        
        24 March 2025 at 10:00 pm
        
        And what happened between 2014 and 2022?
        
        Russia stole Crimea and fueled a proxy war in the Donbas?
        
        Reply
    - weka 1.1.1.2
      
      24 March 2025 at 9:20 pm
      
      please dial back the personal abuse. There's a line between robust debate and starting a flamewar, and you're on it. Yes, I know what adam said, but I'm talking to you. As a mod.
      
      Reply
      - adam 1.1.1.2.1
        
        24 March 2025 at 9:59 pm
        
        I won't be responding to this person to make your life simpler. As I find hard to react to their the lies without starting a flame war.
        
        Reply
      - Res Publica 1.1.1.2.2
        
        24 March 2025 at 10:02 pm
        
        Understood. I may have got a little carried away with my own rhetoric there.
        
        Reply
    - mikesh 1.1.1.3
      
      25 March 2025 at 9:37 am
      
      They gave up their nukes for paper promises.
      
      The nukes in question were only positioned in Ukraine. Apparently they were under Russian control in any case.
      
      Reply
      - Res Publica 1.1.1.3.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 1:46 pm
        
        Technically correct. Which, as we all know, is the best kind of correct
        
        There was absolutely no way the nascent Ukrainian state would have been able to even use the nuclear arsenal that the USSR left behind, even if they wanted to.
        
        But still, it was important gesture towards peace that the Russians repaid with 30 years of meddling, lies, annexation, and eventually invasion.
        
        Reply
  - Psycho Milt 1.1.2
    
    24 March 2025 at 9:25 pm
    
    "…wars for imperialists…"
    
    Hilarious that you write that in the process of shilling for Europe's last major imperial power, which is busy destroying one of its neighbours in the interests of regaining lost imperial possessions.
    
    Reply
    - adam 1.1.2.1
      
      24 March 2025 at 10:05 pm
      
      Shilling, where exactly have I done that?
      
      Come on point out exactly, come on show where I have supported Russian Imperialism.
      
      Reply
    - mikesh 1.1.2.2
      
      25 March 2025 at 9:54 am
      
      I suspect that the Eastern parts of Ukraine should not have been given to Ukraine in the first place Lenin was probably careless when he allowed the setting up of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, thinking that it did not matter as the two countries were on the same side anyway. Kruschev almost certainly gave away Crimea for political reasons: he needed Ukrainian support for his hold on the Soviet premiership, which he had only just obtained after the death Stalin.
      
      Yeltsin, on handing over Ukraine in the early nineties, also alluded to a border dispute, but suggested that Russia would probably not pursue that dispute if Ukraine remained friendly. Unfortunately Ukraine eventually became decidedly unfriendly by allying itself with Russia's main enemy, the USA.
      
      Reply
      - lprent 1.1.2.2.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 11:37 am
        
        Interesting reinterpretation of history. That isn't exactly what happened. But I guess it makes it simple enough to fit in a meaningless slogan.
        
        There were considerable problems in the setting up of the SSR. Lots of competing governments between 1917 and 1922. And a lot of conflict, in particular the Ukrainian-Soviet war against other socialists.
        
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Soviet_Socialist_Republic#History
        
        Yeltsin, on handing over Ukraine in the early nineties, also alluded to a border dispute, but suggested that Russia would probably not pursue that dispute if Ukraine remained friendly.
        
        The proper way to arbitrate border disputers is diplomatic. Invading and annexing without ever bothering to take it to any kind of arbitration makes the aggressor nation to be run by stupid arseholes. All that does is cause endless persistent conflicts and a lot of dead people.
        
        But hey, if as a armchair general that is what you support, then you can probably guess what I think of you.
        
        Unfortunately Ukraine eventually became decidedly unfriendly by allying itself with Russia's main enemy, the USA.
        
        That wasn't noticeable unless you are a deluded apologist for empires. The US and NATO weren't exactly chasing Ukraine. It was the opposite, they put as many barriers between Ukraine and either of them as they could.
        
        Ukraine was chasing NATO because as they saw it, the Russian federation kept interfering in their internal politics.
        
        But I guess an old empire builder / colonist supporter like you doesn't really consider the smaller nations have any rights to self-determination?
        
        Reply
Ad 2

24 March 2025 at 3:06 pm

A 2025 world in which Biden, Macron, and Merkel chose not to resist Russia's invasion of Ukraine would look like this:

Russia fully takes over Ukraine and then Moldova. That's troops and missiles on the NATO border, a minor trigger action and full war between Europe and Russia since all NATO members don't agree on how to respond.

World grain prices and European gas and electricity prices go through the roof and they stay there because there's no time to restabilise alternative supply.

Russia more actively takes over Syria and united Iran and China into a formal defence alliance.

The governments of Russia and Iran continue to work in concert to actively undermine democratic elections, and they do it far more successfully across the Baltic states, Balkan states, United States, France, Germany, Hungary, and Poland.

As a result there is a massive decline in global democracy itself. And it doesn't return.

And a very high likelihood given tens of millions of Ukraine and Moldovan refugees flooding eastern Europe that the EU itself collapses as non-governable.

It's still possible all of this will occur. But even if as in Spain in the 1930s the good guys don't always win, you decide what is worth fighting for and you fight.

In the early 1940s between the full Axis powers there was a good chance the West would lose. They were getting to invade Australia. And the UK.

We chose to fight.

Same with Zelynsky.

Reply
- Nic the NZer 2.1
  
  24 March 2025 at 3:21 pm
  
  Make sure you are sitting down before you look up the winner of the US election.
  
  Reply
  - Ad 2.1.1
    
    24 March 2025 at 4:09 pm
    
    Hence the alternative history framing at the beginning.
    
    Reply
- adam 2.2
  
  24 March 2025 at 4:16 pm
  
  Russia fully takes over Ukraine
  
  Come on dude put your brain into gear – why would Russia take over a population it can not control? Did you miss the whole Soviet era – when those populations were a nightmare for Moscow? Do you really think the Russian leaders are that stupid? Couple it with the fact the West would actively supporting a resistance – it would devolve to shit for Russia, fast.
  
  Not sure I like what has happened in Syria – yeah the fuckwit has gone, but the new head chopper leader is not someone I trust an inch.
  
  Grain – the shit the lack of grain is creating for Africa is a nightmare at the moment – it can only get worse the longer this war goes on.
  
  As I said at the start of the war – where was the diplomacy? Where are the people at the table talking this shit through – nothing but crickets and at best – people talking past each other.
  
  Reply
  - lprent 2.2.1
    
    25 March 2025 at 11:53 am
    
    As I said at the start of the war – where was the diplomacy?
    
    The war started in 2014 with the Russian invasion of Crimea. That was done without any diplomatic action by Russia. Subsequently the Russian Federation supported with both equipment and 'off-duty' troops a insurrection in parts of East Ukraine.
    
    The Russian military actions appear to have been in response by a failed attempt by the then president of Ukraine to override the will of the Rada to have a trade treaty with the EU, and to impose a trade treaty with Russia instead.
    
    Have a read of the founding documents of the Ukrainian state from 1991 – the one that said that the sole body to express the will of the people was the Rada.
    
    That led to attempts to impeach the President who then fled to Moscow after realising that he wouldn't have the votes in the Rada to prevent it.
    
    The avowed intent of the Russian Federation in 2022 when they invaded the rest of Ukraine was to take over Kiev and impose a more friendly, presumably puppet, government. Presumably tearing up the constitution and imposing another while under Russian guns.
    
    Regardless of what the people of Ukraine wanted.
    
    As a supporter of Empires, I guess that is what you'd call diplomacy? Usually known as gunboat diplomacy.
    
    Reply
    - adam 2.2.1.1
      
      25 March 2025 at 7:55 pm
      
      As a supporter of Empires
      
      Fuck off with that lie.
      
      Good faith debate – yeah nah.
      
      Reply
      - lprent 2.2.1.1.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 9:59 pm
        
        Fuck off with that lie.
        
        The problem I have is that when I look at your arguments, that is what they amount to. They carry the great power realpolitik stench.
        
        …where was the diplomacy?
        
        I answered that. You seem to have skipped acknowledging that or answering it.
        
        The problem between Russia and Ukraine to me appears to be a complete failure of diplomacy. The founding document of the current Ukrainian state from 1990 states in Section II
        
        The people of Ukraine are the sole source of state authority in the Republic.
        
        The absolute authority of the people of Ukraine is exercised directly through the Republic's Constitution, as well as via people’s deputies elected to the Verkhovna Rada and local councils of the Ukrainian SSR.
        
        Only the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR can represent all the people. No political party, non-governmental organization, other group or individual can represent all the people of Ukraine.
        
        The Verkhovna Rada is the 450 deputies. So Russia ~~bribing~~ doing a deal with a Ukrainian president isn't any kind of effective diplomacy. The Russina federation appears to have tried that at least twice without the support of the Verkhovna Rada. Both were ejected from the position of president and I think both wound up living in Moscow?.
        
        The subsequent constitutional documents follow the same form.
        
        I mention this particular 1990 document because apologists for the Russian Federation invariably selectively quote part of section IX in external and internal security. My bold.
        
        The Ukrainian SSR solemnly declares its intention of becoming a permanently neutral state that does not participate in military blocs and adheres to three nuclear free principles: to accept, to produce and to purchase no nuclear weapons.
        
        Repeated Russian (gunboat) 'diplomacy' seems to have forced the intention to be changed. In the intervening three decades since that document it became clear to the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada that the Russian Federation was intent on treating Ukraine, not as a sovereign state, but as one that could only be economically and politically subservient to the Russian Federation.
        
        Which is why they keep pestering the EU and NATO about joining those bodies – despite being repeatably put off and vague promises about the future.
        
        That is what Russian 'diplomacy' has brought about.
        
        Reply
- mikesh 2.3
  
  25 March 2025 at 10:01 am
  
  WOW ! What an imagination you have ! You should try writing a novel since you have a real genius for creating fiction.
  
  Reply
Psycho Milt 3

24 March 2025 at 3:06 pm

"Ukraine as a Western proxy war has proven a massive failure." Given that Ukraine as a western proxy war doesn't exist, neither success nor failure is possible.

Still, congrats on providing a perfect example of what Res Publica wrote about the other day.

Reply
- Barfly 3.1
  
  24 March 2025 at 3:29 pm
  
  Reply
Dennis Frank 4

24 March 2025 at 3:44 pm

It is time to de-demonise Russia and to start the process of normalising relations

If Putin declared his intent to switch to peaceful co-existence, I'd agree. His ongoing reluctance to act like Trump's puppet suggests he lacks that intent currently.

Kissinger nailed it back in 2014: “For the West, the demonization of Vladimir Putin is not a policy; it is an alibi for the absence of one.” The former US Secretary of State was cautioning the West against using Ukraine as a proxy for East-West confrontation.

Senility can be a creeping thing. Peter the Great's reputation was built on westernising Russia, n'est ce pas? If Russia has easternised itself since, nobody seems to have publicised that reversal, but I'm open to being proven wrong via quotes.

His view of Europe's policy stance as using Ukraine as proxy has merit if European leaders had announced their intent to confront Putin in this way. Perhaps HK was reading their sub-text, but if so I suspect he may have read too much into it. Whilst Putin does seem to be recycling Tsarist style, could just be he's into rectifying the USSR's dying release of various fringe states.

The West’s goals in the war were variously stated as regime change in Russia, dis-memberment of the Russian federation, the crushing of the Russian economy, defeat on the battlefield and reconquest of all territory, including Crimea. Ukraine, they all said, was on an irreversible course to NATO membership. Such were the dreams of warriors.

Seeing that as posturing all around the park is fair enough, but media talking heads aren't necessarily warriors unless you specify them as such, and even then they're likely to be directors of combat rather than combatants themselves.

The west has never spoken with one voice – pretending concord on the topic was always feasible seems like ignorance of biodiversity. Geopolitics in an era of globalising power where the role of the hegemon seems to be shrinking opens up posturing as a way to signal virtue. Players in the game are consequently motivated by human nature to do virtue signalling as an efficient way to influence the views of other players.

Reply
- mikesh 4.1
  
  25 March 2025 at 10:16 am
  
  Senility can be a creeping thing. Peter the Great's reputation was built on westernising Russia, n'est ce pas? If Russia has easternised itself since, nobody seems to have publicised that reversal, but I'm open to being proven wrong via quotes.
  
  Boris Yeltsin tried to "westernise" Russia in the early nineties. The results were disastrous; though it could be argued that he tried to do it far too quickly.
  
  His view of Europe's policy stance as using Ukraine as proxy has merit if European leaders had announced their intent to confront Putin in this way.
  
  Why would they have to announce it to make it untrue. But in any case the "proxy war" would be between Russiand the USA.
  
  defeat on the battlefield and reconquest of all territory, including Crimea.
  
  I think it was Zelenskyy who said that. Zelenskyy also made no secret of his desire to join NATO.
  
  Reply
  - Dennis Frank 4.1.1
    
    25 March 2025 at 11:01 am
    
    I'm with Z on that. My take is that Europe has been stone-walling on NATO expansion to include Ukraine because it would make them an enemy of Putin while they wannabe friends with him. Silly stance, huh?
    
    A CNN contributing writer tries to illuminate the dictator's nationalism here: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/03/22/europe/russia-putin-ultimate-goals-ukraine-intl-cmd/index.html
    
    Putin has often argued that Ukraine is not a real country because Ukraine and Ukrainians are part of a larger “historical Russia”. Experts say this is, of course, nonsense. “What he’s talking about is the fact that Russia and Ukraine and Belarus share a political ancestor called Rus …
    
    Some vikings went east, back a millennium or more. It'd carry more weight if Putin was in the habit of wearing the standard horned helmet while declaring his geopolitical positioning to the media. Distributing photos of his inner-circle cabal also wearing them helmets would work a treat too. Tribal insignia have achieved a surprising degree of trendiness this century, and I blame branding psychology. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rus%27_people
    
    Reply
Nigel Haworth 5

24 March 2025 at 3:51 pm

That would be the Mr Kissinger, who opined about Chile:

“I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go Communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people.”

The consequences of that position were unspeakable.

It is interesting today to read essentially pro-kleptocracy, 1970s-style arguments dressed up in a revamped “realism”.

There is no doubt, however, that, once support for Ukraine was decided in principle, the level and intent of support should have matched the rhetoric. That said, levels of preparedness in many states for the last two world wars was at best patchy. Liberal democracies take some time to focus on challenges, as, for example, Lord Grey of Falloden’s autobiography captures clearly for 1914.

Reply
- Ad 5.1
  
  24 March 2025 at 4:10 pm
  
  Yes agree.
  
  Oddly NZ is one of the very last to do this catching up.
  
  Reply
- Nic the NZer 5.2
  
  24 March 2025 at 6:13 pm
  
  In inferring that, realism is simply window dressing for support for a particular Russian authoritarian policy, the question must be in which ways it has been unrealistic.
  
  The suggestion, as I interpret it, was that the West had limited ability to exhert force in Ukraine due to both geographic proximity and to the risk of nuclear escellation. That seems wholy consistent with both the course of the conflict and the Biden administrations decisions on NATO membership and levels of military support. I don't understand why the Trump statement that Ukraine won't join NATO was a perceived change in policy, Biden said as much previously. Biden also put limits on arms available to Ukraine often citing the risk of nuclear weapons escellation should the US become too directly involved.
  
  There has never been a Western perspective that what Russia did by invading was moral and good however. Just its not going to be possible to do very much about the result, and extending that would not be moral and good.
  
  Reply
- lprent 5.3
  
  25 March 2025 at 12:07 pm
  
  That would be the Mr Kissinger, who opined about Chile:
  
  I've never rated Kissinger as anything more than academic who had a track record of being consistently wrong.
  
  About the only thing that I think that he ever did right was to help normalise US and Chinese diplomatic relations in 1970/1. And he did support a dentente with the USSR that was already there.
  
  The results of his actions in Chile, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Yom Kippur war, Argentina, East Timor, Bangladesh and a many others were all complete diplomatic disasters when you look at what he supported and what the subsequent body count and social disruption of that support in those flash points was.
  
  His realpolitik ideas have been mostly notable for giving us some of the longest sets of chronic diplomatic problems running for the 50 years.
  
  Reply
Dennis Frank 6

24 March 2025 at 5:34 pm

Ukrainians did the fighting and dying; the West supplied the resources

To illustrate that, there's a bunch of helpful graphs here: https://www.cfr.org/article/how-much-us-aid-going-ukraine

From a moral perspective, nations are likely to see mutual benefit in solidarity, so any delusional posturing is beside the point. We have a UNSC member in blatant breach of UN ethos: everyone knows state sovereignty is meant to be immune to attack because the UN was set up to deliver that outcome. So Putin's primary win thus far is discrediting the UN as a credible force in geopolitics.

Reply
SPC 7

24 March 2025 at 6:10 pm

UN charter says members ‘shall refrain from the threat or use of force’ against a country’s territory or independence

“Conquest is fundamentally incompatible with democracy. Many tenets of the liberal international order cannot survive in the absence of the norm against territorial conquest. Perhaps that is the point.

"Trump in office, the rules-based order is no more”.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/23/trump-expansionism-threatens-the-rules-based-order-in-place-since-second-world-war

Trump is trying to coerce Ukraine to cede land for peace, land taken by conquest – this was forbidden by the UN in 1949.

The USA has form for this. In 2019

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_recognition_of_the_Golan_Heights_as_part_of_Israel

Reply
- Psycho Milt 7.1
  
  24 March 2025 at 9:22 pm
  
  Israel's an unusual case. Given that its neighbours consider themselves under a religious obligation to destroy it, some areas must be denied to those neighbours to ensure they have no choice but to "refrain from the threat or use of force against a country's territory or independence." Russia isn't facing the same problem: its neighbours have no ill-intent towards it and it's so enormous that no invasion by any of its neighbours could succeed anyway.
  
  Reply
mikesh 8

25 March 2025 at 9:32 am

I don't think the Isreal/Paestine situation is religious. I think that Hamas – and others – think that Isreal treats Gaza egregiously, and that it stole, in 1948, the land that occupies.

With Russia, I think tghe USA and some elements in Europe have promjted the myth that Russia is a threat to its neighbours.

Reply
- Psycho Milt 8.1
  
  25 March 2025 at 10:12 am
  
  People in western countries like to discreetly ignore the depth of religious feeling in the Muslim world. Of all the peoples displaced in the 1940s, the Arabs are the only ones who maintain the same intensity of feeling about it 80 years later, and it's because they see it not just as a great injustice to the Arabs, which could be gotten over, but also because land that was conquered for Islam cannot be given up to non-Muslims, and if it is lost it must be recaptured, especially if it's in the heart of the Middle East and with a major holy site in it. You can't just 'get over' clearly stated requirements from the almighty creator of the Universe and everyone in it. They're literal obligations.
  
  Re Russia, its neighbours have been given repeated, indisputable evidence over centuries that Russia is a threat to their independence. Anything Americans or western Europeans might have to say about it is irrelevant to them.
  
  Reply
  - mikesh 8.1.1
    
    25 March 2025 at 2:59 pm
    
    Centuries ? I'm talking about the present. And I never said that the myth of a Russian threat was relevant to Russia. It is certainly seems to influence Europe.
    
    Reply
    - Psycho Milt 8.1.1.1
      
      25 March 2025 at 4:35 pm
      
      The past affects the present. There's a reason all the ex-Soviet possessions in eastern Europe were clamouring to join NATO and that reason involves both the past and the present. But even if we ignore the past, Russia is in the process of invading and annexing one of its neighbours right now.
      
      Reply
      - mikesh 8.1.1.1.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 6:10 pm
        
        But even if we ignore the past, Russia is in the process of invading and annexing one of its neighbours right now.
        
        But given the provocation it can't be taken as evidence that Russia, in general, is a threat to other nations.
        
        Reply
        
        SPC 8.1.1.1.1.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 6:23 pm
        
        What provocation?
        
        Having a blue and gold dress on above the knee and saying it prefers the EU to Russia as a partner?
        
        Reply
        
        Psycho Milt 8.1.1.1.1.2
        
        25 March 2025 at 7:27 pm
        
        Unwillingness to be subjects of a Russian 'sphere of influence' isn't a "provocation." The fact that it's seen by Vlad Putin as a "provocation" is exactly why all of these countries, including Ukraine, were so keen to become NATO members.
        
        Reply
        
        Belladonna 8.1.1.1.1.3
        
        25 March 2025 at 8:13 pm
        
        What 'provocation'.
        Not even the most one-eyed Putin supporter can believe that Ukraine was any threat to Russia.
        Even if Putin believed that Ukraine being granted NATO membership was an existential threat to Russia (God knows why) – Ukraine was decades away from meeting the minimum qualifications – and the option wasn't even particularly popular amongst the Ukrainian population.
        
        Of course, all that changed following the 2014 Russian-backed attacks.
        
        Reply
        
        Belladonna 8.1.1.1.1.4
        
        25 March 2025 at 8:16 pm
        
        Looks like a comprehensive list of reasons why neighbouring countries should regard Russia as a threat.
        
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_involving_Russia#Russian_Federation_(1991%E2%80%93present)
        
        Reply
- Res Publica 8.2
  
  25 March 2025 at 2:04 pm
  
  With Russia, I think tghe USA and some elements in Europe have promjted the myth that Russia is a threat to its neighbours.
  
  I think Russia’s done a perfectly good job of provoking this conflict all on its own. No help needed from ‘the West.’
  
  You can usually spot the aggressor by the little things: like repeatedly invading neighbours, annexing their land, and insisting entire nations are ‘fake’ and don’t really exist
  
  Reply
- SPC 8.3
  
  25 March 2025 at 6:21 pm
  
  The land that Israel occupies is the WB and Gaza (since 1967). The land won in their "1948" war of independence (nakba) is now part of the state of Israel and is recognised as such. The UN made annexation of land via war illegal in 1949.
  
  Reply
  - Psycho Milt 8.3.1
    
    25 March 2025 at 7:32 pm
    
    I'd argue Jordan and Egypt running the WB and Gaza was the occupation, which Israel ended. But regardless: the WB and Gaza as "the occupation" is something only people in western countries believe. When Palestinians refer to "the occupation," they mean any square kilometer of ex-mandate Palestine that has Jewish self-determination.
    
    Reply
    - Drowsy M. Kram 8.3.1.1
      
      25 March 2025 at 7:54 pm
      
      But regardless: the WB and Gaza as "the occupation" is something only people in western countries believe.
      
      Not only people in western countries, believe it or not. We can agree to disagree.
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupied_Palestinian_territories
      
      As of March 2025, the State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations, or just over 75% of all UN members. It has been a non-member observer state of the United Nations General Assembly since November 2012. This limited status is largely due to the fact that the United States, a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power, has consistently used its veto or threatened to do so to block Palestine's full UN membership.
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_recognition_of_Palestine
      
      Green = Countries that have recognised the State of Palestine
      
      Reply
      - Dennis Frank 8.3.1.1.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 8:16 pm
        
        Compelling evidence on display, for sure. Nice to see the wiki elves using the Green brand to highlight the concord. Inadvertent, perhaps, but aesthetically charming as a mental framing design.
        
        Reply
Champaign Socialist 9

25 March 2025 at 10:09 am

If you step right back and think about what was happening between Russia and Europe before the war started it becomes clear as to why the war was necessary from a long term US perspective.

Germany and Russia in particular but Europe and Russia generally, were becoming increasingly integrated. Economically this was through the energy resources that Russia was pumping across the frozen tundra directly into a booming German industrial sector.

Border and travel restrictions were beginning to disappear and large numbers of young people were choosing to study in Europe or Russia and open travel arrangements were being discussed.

In essence Europe and Russia were becoming increasingly integrated and interdependent socially and economically. Had this process continued un-impeded what would the outcome have been?

If there had been no sanctions on Russia and Nordstream 2 hadn't been destroyed and Europe was now receiving vast quantities of energy at stable prices what would their economy look like?

If Russian and European citizens were increasingly travelling between each others countries and beginning to lose a sense of the border, what does that lead in the long run?

Would such a prospect have been considered an economic threat by the US?

Reply
- Belladonna 9.1
  
  25 March 2025 at 8:27 pm
  
  Why do you think the US would care? They'd made no attempt to interfere in the Merkel-led economic integration of Russia into Europe.
  
  Really, the US economy does very nicely – and the German economic problems (rising population age, decreasing numbers of workers, unaffordable EU contributions (they pay for 1/4 of the total EU costs), etc.) – would have still been in existence with stable energy prices. Although the Green-led decommissioning of nuclear power plants – relying solely on imported gas can be seen (in hindsight) as a poor political and economic policy.
  
  https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/germanys-economy-has-gone-from-engine-to-anchor/
  
  Reply
  - Dennis Frank 9.1.1
    
    26 March 2025 at 9:18 am
    
    I wonder what's causing other countries in Europe to out-perform Germany?
    
    Since 2017, the German economy has grown by a mere 1.6 percent, far below the EU average of 9.5 percent. [from your source]
    
    Although the Green-led decommissioning of nuclear power plants – relying solely on imported gas can be seen (in hindsight) as a poor political and economic policy.
    
    And will be seen thataway by traditional Germans. Doing the right thing at the wrong time is unfortunate in effect currently, yet strategically sensible. Recently I read something about micronuke tech developing. Depending on intelligent design, or lack thereof, the prospect of local power generation looms. Biologists use the theory of the adjacent possible to conceptualise possibilities of imminence, when it seems more suited to sociological application. Can't make progress if you don't try.
    
    Reply
    - Belladonna 9.1.1.1
      
      26 March 2025 at 10:57 am
      
      Relative German economic stagnation was already underway prior to the Russian energy crisis. With the significant factors being: aging workforce, reliance on exports (largely high-tech engineering – very exposed to the Chinese/SE Asian market turndown), high workforce costs, as well as high energy costs.
      
      All of which is not to say that Germany is a basket case now, but that the economic factors are getting worse, rather than better. And there are not any easy solutions on the horizon. Their current political woes are another symptom of this – people don't see the current policies (inherited from the Merkel era) 'working' and are flailing around looking for alternatives.
      
      https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/02/21/world/europe/germany-economy-election.htmlhttps://archive.ph/Jt3Jq
      
      The economies which are outperforming Germany in the manufacturing sector have lower wages/conditions and lower energy costs (and they're mostly not in the EU). The EU economies which are outperforming Germany, have different productive sectors (tourism, services, finance) – and are often small (Malta, the outstanding growth EU economy from last year, is almost entirely tourism – and is a flyspeck in the EU totals).
      
      But, given that Germany is 1/4 of the entire EU productive sector – the fact that it seems to be catching cold – is likely to have severe impacts on the EU as a whole.
      
      Reply
Champaign Socialist 10

25 March 2025 at 10:17 am

The priority in any conflict from those in it and outside it – should be to stop it as fast as possible. Not for any reason other than preserving the lives of the young men and woman who pay the price on the frontline and the civilian colatoral.

It might have made sense in Feudal times to get all pompous and courageous and 'rail against the moral injustice that must be punished' but in the modern world – when weighed against the value of human life – Ukrainian, Russian, Palestinian and Israeli – non of it means a thing. The balance of the scales will always tip to the the preservation of human life.

Just stop killing. What ever it takes to achieve that as quickly as possible.

Reply
- mpledger 10.1
  
  25 March 2025 at 11:06 am
  
  And then Putin learns that threatening war and death wins. Where does he stop? Who borders Ukraine?
  
  The West found out that capitulating for peace doesn't end in peace.
  
  Reply
  - mikesh 10.1.1
    
    25 March 2025 at 3:21 pm
    
    I think, though obviously I cannot ber sure, that Hitler would have been quite happy to enter into an alliance with Britain, but Chamberlain went and declared war. So I'm guessing that as between Britain and Germany Britain should be considered the aggressor.
    
    It would seem that Rudolph Hess was parachuted into Britain to persuade the British PTB that Britain and Germany should be mates.
    
    Reply
    - SPC 10.1.1.1
      
      25 March 2025 at 4:04 pm
      
      The problem with people who lie, as Hitler did to Chamberlain at Munich have is being seen as untrustworthy. The subsequent invasion of Czechoslovakia led to the guarantee made to Poland.
      
      This is why no one of a liberal democracy trusts Putin – the delegitimising language used about Ukraine is of the lebensraum era.
      
      Reply
  - mikesh 10.1.2
    
    25 March 2025 at 6:32 pm
    
    @mpledger 10.1
    So you think this war should continue "to the last Ukranian".
    
    Reply
- Belladonna 10.2
  
  25 March 2025 at 1:46 pm
  
  So, from your perspective, nothing is worth fighting for.
  
  When faced with a war-threat (from a government which had previously demonstrated unequivocally that they are prepared to carry through, i.e. Russia) – you would support immediate surrender.
  
  Your opinion is likely to be welcomed by authoritarian regimes across the world.
  
  Reply
- Res Publica 10.3
  
  25 March 2025 at 2:00 pm
  
  We’ve tried this before. In Munich, 1938. Where democracy blinked in the face of an autocratic regime that would have promptly collapsed had Chamberlain and Daladier had the moral courage to push back even a little.
  
  Whether appeasement comes from naivety or cynical self-interest, the result is the same: the aggressor is emboldened, and the victim is sacrificed.
  
  Pretending moral neutrality is the high ground only helps those with no intention of playing by the rules. Pacifism that ignores power dynamics isn’t peacekeeping: it’s enabling.
  
  Reply
  - Champaign Socialist 10.3.1
    
    25 March 2025 at 3:53 pm
    
    These types of statements are fine if they lead to an outcome – yes if Western postering and billions in weapons had delivered a quick conclusion to either the Ukraine/Russia or Israeli/Gaza conflicts then they would hold more weight.
    
    The US, Europe and West in general have blustered and opined and wound up their military industries to deliver armaments on an un-precedented scale – and after close to 2 years – nothing, no progress in either warzone.
    
    Tens of thousands of lives lost and what is the proposed solution to these terrible outcomes – more of the same, more pompous rhetoric, more weapons to Ukraine and Israel, more militarism and threats of violence – leading to the relentless and unnecessary destruction of human life.
    
    And no Russia is not going to march into Europe – that is not logistically realistic when you look at the size of the Russian economy and population.
    
    Neither is Hamas any kind of existential military threat to Israel.
    
    BTW – that is not to say that I agree with the actions of either – Russia in particular had a lot more leavers to pull economically before resorting to invasion and it didn't event try. Given what Russia lost in terms of closer and faster integration with the European economy I think it was a massive strategic error but I'm not in charge of Russia at the moment.
    
    Reply
    - Res Publica 10.3.1.1
      
      25 March 2025 at 4:04 pm
      
      I appreciate the thoughtfulness in your response.
      
      I don’t read you as someone reflexively blaming “the West” for everything, but as someone genuinely horrified by the scale of suffering and looking for a better way.
      
      I think we probably share more common ground than it might first seem.
      
      Where I diverge is on the idea that nothing has come from support to Ukraine. Without it, we’d likely be seeing a Russian client state today — along with a clear message to any smaller democracy: sovereignty is conditional on whether your neighbors respect it.
      
      There’s no doubt the costs, in both blood and treasure, have been terrible. But to the Ukrainians, it still appears preferable to the alternative. And as long as they are prepared to risk their lives and homes to secure their existence as a nation, I feel we’re obliged to support them.
      
      I also agree Russia isn’t about to steamroll through Europe. But the Baltic states, Poland, and others with a deep historical memory of occupation have good reason not to gamble on restraint.
      
      Deterrence isn't about assuming the worst. It’s about making sure the worst doesn't become viable.
      
      In the round, militarism without a strategy, or rhetoric without diplomacy, is a dead end. Supporting Ukraine’s resistance should go hand-in-hand with a relentless push for ceasefires, humanitarian corridors, and long-term political solutions that uphold Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
      
      We need both courage and compassion — not just one or the other.
      
      Reply
      - SPC 10.3.1.1.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 5:07 pm
        
        Feb 2022.
        
        For mine Putin was influenced by the American (bi-partisan) decision to withdraw from Afghanistan (Biden supported GOP aid to the mujahideen there back in the 1980's). Defending human rights there, not part of the American forever war. That would have had huge impact on him as an Andropov era KGB man.
        
        He saw a post American Iraq regime with Shia militias in Syria. Assad's regime still in power in Damascus. Hezbollah dominant in Lebanon. Wagner was active in Africa including Libya. Only Turkey stood up to them. The Americans just had a base in Syria to secure the Kurds running prisons for the IS remnant.
        
        Given Putin's education – first thesis The Most Favored Nation Trading Principle in International Law and post USSR second thesis Energy dependencies and their instrumentalisation in foreign policy, the sanctions may had had an influence (over a decade of sanctions on Iraq by 2003).
        
        He would have warred on Ukraine to win – either a quick regime change (to end sanctions), or withdraw from the north and seek to acquire Nova Russia (southeast). Easily or by prolonged war – attrition, with the price matched by the gain of undermining EU will and or breaking NATO if Trump was re-elected.
        
        Given Trump's new penchant for being hegemon and claiming territory for the USA, normalising aberrant behaviour – it is now the whole UN Charter order in peril.
        
        In such a world – only nuclear arms or location provides security.
        
        An unprincipled peace in Ukraine is the beginning of the end for the 20th C order. The PNAC has what it wanted. But a world in which no one trusts the USA and they no longer have (and will become desperate to get back) unilateral power.
        
        The world of 1945 FDR and WW (his GOP opponent) to the world of DJT and JDV. A failure of leadership. And the GOP is now the one it was before WW, the one that wanted fascism before liberal or social democracy.
        
        Reply
        
        Res Publica 10.3.1.1.1.1
        
        26 March 2025 at 9:38 am
        
        I couldn't agree more SPC.
        
        The rules-based international order is on the verge of collapsing around our ears, which is providing ample opportunities for all sorts of aspiring regional hegemons to chance their arm at a time where the USA's commitment to its partners, and even to democracy itself, is somewhat…. ambiguous.
        
        It's a dangerous time for small states. And it would be wise for New Zealand to look for fresh allies and fresh defences to shore up our chances.
        
        Reply
        
        Stephen D …
        
        26 March 2025 at 10:07 am
        
        It's a great question.
        
        We seem to be in an era where being non aligned means being at the mercy of the biggest bully on the block.
        
        Is it time we made a decision, and throw ourselves into the BRIC/Chinese block? Theyre our major trade partners after all. Any human rights squeamishes are tough no matter whic block we choose.
        
        Reply
        
        Res Publica …
        
        26 March 2025 at 10:42 am
        
        That's an even better question! And one that might be fun to tackle in another guest post. Assuming my weekend's effort didn’t annoy the mods too much
        
        My two cents on that dilemma is this: alignment with China comes with enormous attendant risks. It would threaten our relationships with our closest and most important allies, make us cripplingly dependent on Chinese goodwill to sustain our economy, and place us in the orbit of brutal authoritarian regimes that are fundamentally opposed to our values.
        
        We do have to accept that no great power ally is going to be perfect — or even act in little old Aotearoa’s best interests all the time.
        
        But between being a western henchman and being Xi Jinping’s vassal?
        
        I’ll take the devil I can post memes about over the one that tries to ban Winnie the Pooh.
        
        Reply
        
        Belladonna …
        
        26 March 2025 at 11:14 am
        
        Also, taking the long view, it seems unlikely that 'China' is going to be around as a strong alliance partner (even with NZ as a very junior partner in the alliance) in the mid-term.
        
        Assuming that global warming is going to have a significant impact on agriculture (persistent droughts) – China is increasingly reliant on importing food. Food which may not be around in the quantities needed.
        
        Assuming that manufacture is increasingly moving away from China to other countries (we're already seeing this in places like SE Asia and Mexico), and/or being 'in-sourced' (which the US is trying to do). China has little to trade for the food it will need.
        
        Knowing (there is no assumption here) that China's population is tanking – and has been for decades. Which means that the productive workforce is shrinking, just as the aging workforce is retiring. While China offers little in the way of pensions, all that means is that the 'little emperor' generation is going to be responsible for supporting 2 parents and 4 grandparents on a single income. Of course they won't be having kids.
        
        Assuming that the political presentation that China is currently engaging in is winning no friends (either in neighbouring countries or internationally). China has few friends – and even fewer in any position to help.
        
        https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2025/01/20/the-bigger-threats-to-chinas-economy/
        
        China doesn't look like a valuable long-term strategic partner for NZ.
        
        If I were a Pacific nation – I might be inclined to take China for everything it's got right now, in terms of building infrastructure, and development (as many solar or wind power stations as can be squeezed in), along with infrastructure to maintain and repair them. And then renege when it comes to repayments…. Sorry, we've revalued our currency, and $1 is now worth 1 billion yuan. [Slightly tongue-in-cheek – but along the lines of when you owe the bank $100 and can't pay, you have a problem; when you owe $1 billion, then the bank has a problem]
        
        The threat China poses is military – but the putative pacific nation (and the real NZ one) -are a very long way away from China – and the ability to realistically project military power (or invasion) is fairly unlikely. The risk to neighbouring countries (like Taiwan) is greater – especially that attacks will be made in the death-convulsions of Xi's state.
        
        Reply
        
        Stephen D …
        
        26 March 2025 at 1:07 pm
        
        "Also, taking the long view, it seems unlikely that 'China' is going to be around as a strong alliance partner (even with NZ as a very junior partner in the alliance) in the mid-term."
        
        I'm inclined to disagree. US hegemony is disintegrating. Capitalism is is in its death throes.(although it may take time to modify itself to any positive degree.) The 21st centurry will belong to China.
        
        Drowsy M. Kram …
        
        26 March 2025 at 12:01 pm
        
        It would threaten our relationships with our closest and most important allies, make us cripplingly dependent on Chinese goodwill to sustain our economy, and place us in the orbit of brutal authoritarian regimes that are fundamentally opposed to our values.
        
        Assuming China is included in these "brutal authoritarian regimes", I agree that China and NZ are both "fundamentally opposed to" adopting some of each other's 'values'. Given our geographical separation, I reckon the values on which 'we' differ can continue to coexist, for now.
        
        In these Trumpian times, security depends on continued peaceful co-existence – Kiwis who feel compelled to characterise NZ's largest export market as being governed by a brutal authoritarian regime might reflect on whether such characterisations do more harm than good.
        
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand_head_tax
        
        Don't get me wrong, I'm all for universal human rights, and would argue that New Zealand's comparatively short-lived human rights record is, on balance, objectively better than China's, but the Chinese 'regime' faces significant geopolitical challenges of its own.
        
        While China's governance mechanisms are very different from ours, many Chinese people are not so unlike you or me – when you get to know them. And, since there are about 270 Chinese (gooseberries) for every Kiwi(fruit), getting to know one or two might not be such a bad idea. Kiwi's do love a good charm offensive.
        
        New Zealand's 'anti-China' Foreign Minister visits China on charm offensive [28 May 2018]
        On the Chinese website Baidu — China's answer to Wikipedia — Mr Peters is labelled an "anti-China politician".
        
        The unfortunate title stems from a 2014 editorial published by the official People's Daily newspaper, which accused Mr Peters of being "anti-China" after he uttered the punchline "two Wongs don't make a white" during a campaign launch address.
        
        Reply
        
        Res Publica …
        
        26 March 2025 at 1:29 pm
        
        And, since there are about 270 Chinese (gooseberries) for every Kiwi(fruit)
        
        Nice line! I might have to steal that one . It's too good not to reuse sometime.
        
        getting to know one or two might not be such a bad idea. Kiwi's do love a good charm offensive.
        
        Aww jeez — I guess all those years I spent learning Mandarin and studying Chinese history at university were wasted then. Must just be that I don’t really understand China.
        
        对不起, 同志！
        
        PsyclingLeft.Always …
        
        26 March 2025 at 12:56 pm
        
        i might be wrong, but China does seem to slightly trigger you? I refer also to earlier comment on barbarians….
        
        https://thestandard.org.nz/helen-clarks-nuanced-take-on-world-events/#comment-2027022
        
        I would refer you to some others who also regard/ed others as barbarians. Historical I know…but maybe little known?
        
        The United States saw Japan as an ally in the U.S.'s quest to control the Pacific
        
        In Autumn 1872, U.S. minister to Japan Charles DeLong explained to U.S. General Charles LeGendre that he had been urging the Government of Japan to occupy Taiwan and "civilize" the Taiwanese indigenous people just as the U.S. had taken over the land of the Native Americans and "civilized" them
        
        Cruel Irony…
        
        The stated aim of the sphere of influence would be to civilize the barbarians of Asia. "Pacify and civilize them if possible, and if not…exterminate them or otherwise deal with them as the United States and England have dealt with the barbarians," LeGendre explained to the Japanese.
        
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Japanese_War
        
        And maybe with perspective, some still adhere to a particular view…
        
        Reply
        
        Res Publica …
        
        26 March 2025 at 1:36 pm
        
        Why the italics? Why the whataboutery?
        
        Yes, history is full of empires behaving badly. That doesn’t mean we abandon moral judgment now. Pointing out American imperialism in the 19th century doesn’t excuse authoritarian expansionism in the 21st. We can (and should) be capable of holding more than one historical truth at a time.
        
        And for what it’s worth, I speak both Japanese and Mandarin — and I’m well aware of Japanese historical and current attitudes towards other ethnic groups.
        
        tldr; they make Winston Peters look woke and embracing of multiculturalism by comparison.
        
        Just as I’m aware that Chinese discourse still sometimes uses wārén or "dwarves" as a slur for Japanese people.
        
        But trying to muddy present-day criticism of a powerful authoritarian state by reaching back to 1872 isn’t perspective — it’s deflection.
        
        And it avoids the actual discussion: how small states like ours should navigate a dangerous and shifting geopolitical landscape without losing our values, our sovereignty, or our voice.
        
        PsyclingLeft.Always …
        
        26 March 2025 at 2:00 pm
        
        Res Publica..No reply button to your comment. so
        
        Why the italics? Why the whataboutery?
        
        I used italics purely as a means to mildly show how some might have an alternate take on yours.
        
        And the whataboutery? Well… thats maybe your personal take..on someone having a differing view.
        
        Which I am perfectly entitled to do. And will, always…
        
        Oh and you (and others?) might not know of the USA and its prison population.
        
        Some might call it repression….
        
        https://www.prisonstudies.org/highest-to-lowest/prison-population-total/trackback?field_region_taxonomy_tid=All
        
        Drowsy M. Kram …
        
        26 March 2025 at 2:50 pm
        
        Aww jeez — I guess all those years I spent learning Mandarin and studying Chinese history at university were wasted then. Must just be that I don’t really understand China.
        
        Glad you really understand the Chinese, comrade – was just less certain about the 'value' of your "brutal authoritarian regimes" thing.
        
        Reply
    - SPC 10.3.1.2
      
      25 March 2025 at 4:21 pm
      
      This is about the UN Charter – collective security of nations.
      
      Peter Fraser was right – nations with the UNSC veto would be the threat to the new order (and those they protect). Russia not withdrawing its forces after 1945 began it all. Then the lack of international input to ensuring the 1947 mandate was implemented (leading to the 1949 decision to end border changes by war/force of arms). Then the USA blocking the Taiwanese strait. Then the fool who took "UN" forces to the Yalu River (while Beijing was not in the UN).
      
      It is not about Ukraine perse.
      
      It is about standing up to hegemony.
      
      Reply
      - Res Publica 10.3.1.2.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 4:58 pm
        
        This is about the UN Charter – collective security of nations.
        
        I absolutely agree. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin: if us smaller states don’t hang together, we will surely be hung separately.
        
        Collective security must mean something, or it means nothing at all.
        
        Reply
  - mikesh 10.3.2
    
    25 March 2025 at 6:22 pm
    
    So you are now admitting that Putin could not be expected to ignore the goings on in Ukraine between 2014 and 2022. Appeasement would not have worked; the Minsk agreemnents had failed; he could not countenance Ukraine joining NATO; he had to invade.
    
    Reply
    - SPC 10.3.2.1
      
      25 March 2025 at 6:25 pm
      
      He had to invade, is the most tankie comment made yet.
      
      Ukraine is a sovereign country.
      
      Reply
      - mikesh 10.3.2.1.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 6:49 pm
        
        the most tankie comment made yet.
        
        True just the same.
        
        Reply
      - mikesh 10.3.2.1.2
        
        25 March 2025 at 6:52 pm
        
        Ukraine is a sovereign country.
        
        A sovereign counrtry has to be able to defend itslf, and must do so when required. Russia is a sovereign country.
        
        Reply
        
        SPC 10.3.2.1.2.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 6:55 pm
        
        Closet fascist ideology – power determines borders and obedience to rule, rather than consent.
        
        Reply
        
        mikesh …
        
        25 March 2025 at 7:04 pm
        
        And if consent is not present, what then ? There had been border dispute between Ukraine and Russia long before 2014, the civil war, and the invasion.
        
        Reply
        
        SPC …
        
        25 March 2025 at 7:08 pm
        
        They agreed on borders in 2003.
        
        This was more moot after the end of Treaty of Friendship in 2019.
        
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian%E2%80%93Ukrainian_Friendship_Treaty
        
        Reply
        
        mikesh …
        
        25 March 2025 at 7:15 pm
        
        However it is likely the substance of the earlier dispute remained. Any agreement made in 2003 probably depended on Ukraine remaining friendly. Russia would probably have wanted to ensure land access to her naval base in Crimea as part of the deal, and also an assurance that Ukraine would not join NATO.
        
        Reply
        
        Belladonna 10.3.2.1.2.2
        
        25 March 2025 at 7:02 pm
        
        Based on your definition, virtually every Pacific nation would fail the test of 'sovereignty'. None of them could defend themselves against a serious aggressor (China, Japan, US).
        
        Nor, to be frank, could NZ.
        
        We area all ‘defended’ more by distance, and the lack of anything that someone larger and better armed seriously wants.
        
        Your definition effectively excludes the majority of the UN.
        
        Reply
        
        mikesh …
        
        25 March 2025 at 7:09 pm
        
        Based on your definition, virtually every Pacific nation would fail the test of 'sovereignty'. None of them could defend themselves against a serious aggressor (China, Japan, US).
        
        Nor, to be frank, could NZ.
        
        You are so right. It's lucky none of us are under attack.
        
        Reply
        
        Belladonna …
        
        25 March 2025 at 7:14 pm
        
        Well, you'll no doubt be rooting for the US – by your definition a 'sovereign' power – to take over Canada and Greenland.
        Neither of which can 'defend' themselves.
        
        An international order, based solely on military power, is not a goal that I think that most on the Left (or even most Kiwis, regardless of their political orientation) would desire. It seems surprising that you do so.
        
        Reply
        
        mikesh …
        
        26 March 2025 at 8:07 am
        
        I won't be "rooting" for anybody. I will probably just be an interested spectator. However if the US does invade canada, it, like Russia with respect to Ukrfaine, will not give back any territory that it manages to grab.
        
        Reply
        
        Belladonna …
        
        26 March 2025 at 10:32 am
        
        Again – your might-makes-right argument.
        
        Interesting that you won't be 'rooting' for the US (if it happens – which I think is highly unlikely) – but are, indeed 'rooting' for Russia.
        
        Makes your affiliation really clear.
    - Belladonna 10.3.2.2
      
      25 March 2025 at 7:10 pm
      
      By 'Minsk Agreements' – are you referring to the treaty that Russia forced Ukraine to sign in 2014 – and then immediately breached the terms?
      
      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minsk_agreements
      
      Reply
      - mikesh 10.3.2.2.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 7:26 pm
        
        I don't think Russia broke the terms. I think it would have been either the Ukrainian government forces, or possibly the Eastern rebels. Either way it's not at all clear which side was first to break the agreement.
        
        Later there was a second Minsk agreement. I think Putin relied to much on the Minsk agreements, otherwise he may have invaded earlier, before Ukraine had had time to get its act together, and brought the war to suitable conclusion earlier, and with less destruction and bloodshed.
        
        Reply
        
        Belladonna 10.3.2.2.1.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 7:50 pm
        
        I'm assuming that you believe the figleaf of independence that Russia has claimed with their proxy forces in the Donetsk People's Republic from 2014 onwards. A position which is only held by Russian apologists.
        
        Of course, by your own definition the DPR had no sovereignty – since it was entirely unable to defend itself without Russian-backed paramilitary forces (the same ones which set it up to begin with).
        
        And, if Russia had no involvement in the conflict – why were they even signatories to the Minsk Agreements?
        
        Reply
        
        mikesh …
        
        26 March 2025 at 8:26 am
        
        Of course, by your own definition the DPR had no sovereignty – since it was entirely unable to defend itself without Russian-backed paramilitary forces (the same ones which set it up to begin with).
        
        Of course it could defend itself, since it could rely on Russian support. However you seem to be missing the point I was trying to make. Sovereignty may provide immunity from outtside interference in a state's internal affairs, though the US does not seem to agree, but it's no defense against an external attack.
        
        And, if Russia had no involvement in the conflict – why were they even signatories to the Minsk Agreements?
        
        I don't know, but I'm sure you are about to enlighten me. However you seem to be implying that eastern Ukrainians themselves took no part in the conflict, and that their original attempt to gain some measure of autonomy, which federalization might have provided, did not occur.
        
        Reply
        
        Belladonna …
        
        26 March 2025 at 10:40 am
        
        Oh, goodness. So in your cockeyed view of reality, it's fine for the DPR to 'defend' itself by outsourcing the defense to Russia (making it entirely clear that it was, in fact, a puppet regime). But it's suddenly a major issue for Ukraine to ask for and accept defense assistance.
        
        Your point appears to be that neighbouring States to Russia should fall over themselves to appease Putin, under threat of military attack. And there is absolutely nothing wrong with this.
        
        Your definition of 'sovereignty'
        
        A sovereign counrtry has to be able to defend itslf, and must do so when required.
        
        Tells us that you believe that no State has the right to remain independent, if they have something that someone else wants (and has the power to take). Dictators Rule OK.
        
        Reply
    - Res Publica 10.3.2.3
      
      26 March 2025 at 9:49 am
      
      "Putin could not ignore Ukraine?"
      
      That framing treats Ukrainian independence and agency as optional — as if Ukraine’s choices about democracy, alliances, and foreign policy are somehow dependent on Russia’s goodwill, rather than being the sovereign right of a free nation to chart its own course.
      
      The Revolution of Dignity wasn’t a coup or some Western plot. It was a mass movement by Ukrainians demanding accountability, democracy, and a future free of Russian domination. To dismiss that as something that "forced Putin’s hand" comes dangerously close to justifying imperialism.
      
      The Minsk agreements didn’t fail because of Ukraine. They failed because Russia armed, funded, and directed separatists while denying any responsibility. That’s not diplomacy failing — that’s bad-faith brinksmanship.
      
      And as for NATO: countries seek alliances because of aggression from their neighbors, not the other way around. If Putin couldn’t “countenance” that, the answer wasn’t to invade a neighbor — it was to stop threatening and invading them.
      
      Reply
SPC 11

25 March 2025 at 6:54 pm

The first two premises are that Ukraine is doomed – defeatism. And that the blame for this falls to the West.

The strategy can be reducted down to, nations on their own cannot easily survive an attack by the regional hegemon.

If they lack a security partnership, they are dependent on the rules based order working.

But as Fraser noted in the 1940's, what about the UNSC nation with a veto (and later nuclear weapons)?

Ukraine is only doomed if Trump is prepared to end the UN Charter era by forcing a peace on Ukraine which involves loss of the Russian occupied territory and no security guarantees (he covets Canada Greenland and Gaza – and has had Panama Canal port sold to Black Rock).

Whether the EU goers along with this is the issue.

There is $200B in assets that can be seized and given to Ukraine.

All POTUS has to do is say if the Russians agree to a permanent cease-fire now, the money will go to rebuild Ukraine, rather than to buy weapons.

Then move to a negotiation over easing sanctions for security guarantees for Ukraine.

Why Trump is obstructing the obvious is not yet completely clear.

The impossible is cession of Ukraine land to Russia or Russian forces leaving while Putin is Russian leader.

Reply
mikesh 12

25 March 2025 at 7:37 pm

“The impossible is cession of Ukraine land to Russia or Russian forces leaving while Putin is Russian leader”.

That will happen anyway: in fact it has happened already. Russia will never give up the territory in question. The relinquishment of the territory in the first place was Lenin's doing (relinquishment of Crimea was Kruschev's doing); I'm guessing Russia did not agree to these at the times they occurred, but was not able to overrule Soviet decisions.

Reply
- SPC 12.1
  
  25 March 2025 at 7:47 pm
  
  That will happen anyway: in fact it has happened already.
  
  No land has been ceded. And to acquire land by force of arms has been illegal since 1949.
  
  Reply
  - mikesh 12.1.1
    
    25 March 2025 at 9:09 pm
    
    @Belladonna below
    
    Russia existed even before the Soviet Union was formed. During he Soviet era it was one of the many states that made up the Soviet Union. At the beginning of the nineties Mikhail Gorbachev was Soviet premier and Boris Yeltsin was preident of Russia. Yeltsin got rid of Gorbachev by getting together with the presidents of a mumber of other Soviet states, behind Gorbachev's back, and they disolved the Soviet Union, leaving Gorbachev powerless.
    
    I would assume, though I could be wrong, that once the Union ceased to exist the Ukrainian Soviet state also ceased to exist, and sovereignty over Ukraine would have reverted to Russia. That would be why, I am thinking, Yeltsin granted Ukraine independence a second time, though he nevertheless pointed, at the time, to a longstanding border dispute. Had Putin been president at the time he might have insisted on keeping Donbas, Crimea, and part of Southern Ukraine on the basis of that dispute. However that's something we will never know.
    
    Reply
    - SPC 12.1.1.1
      
      25 March 2025 at 9:12 pm
      
      Ukraine has been a nation state member of the UN since 1945, the only one of the USSR to be in the UN independently of the USSR.
      
      Reply
    - Res Publica 12.1.1.2
      
      26 March 2025 at 9:57 am
      
      I don’t think Yeltsin or Gorbachev granted Ukraine independence so much as they realised the only way to maintain Russia’s hegemony over its former satellites would have been through armed force.
      
      And that would’ve been, at best, messy — enormously destructive, possibly nuclear — and would almost certainly have triggered a hardline coup. This time with the military on the side of the hardliners.
      
      In that scenario, the closest Yeltsin gets to climbing onto a tank is when the communists hogtie his body to one for public display after his execution.
      
      Honestly, the bravest thing either of them ever did was something almost unthinkable for Soviet political leaders: they accepted reality.
      
      They saw the empire was finished. They let go — not out of idealism, but because they knew clinging to it would burn everything down.
      
      Putin, by contrast, couldn’t bring himself to do the same.
      
      Reply
  - mikesh 12.1.2
    
    25 March 2025 at 9:14 pm
    
    Still, Russia will not be giving it back.
    
    Acquiring land by force is illegal only if the UN doesn't allow it. However, regardless of the rights and wrongs of the case I think the UN would have given a biased decision had Russia applied to the UN prior to the invasion. The US would have vetoed it.
    
    Reply
    - SPC 12.1.2.1
      
      25 March 2025 at 9:18 pm
      
      Can you name one occasion where the UN has allowed the acquiring of land by force?
      
      The UN Charter provides nations with security backing (subverted by the Russian UNSC veto here and its nukes otherwise) and the 1949 ruling prevents recognition of border changes.
      
      Reply
      - mikesh 12.1.2.1.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 9:48 pm
        
        Can you name one occasion where the UN has allowed the acquiring of land by force?
        
        Isreal? Syria, very recently.
        
        Reply
        
        SPC 12.1.2.1.1.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 10:46 pm
        
        The land won in 1948, beyond the 1947 Jewish designated area was because no Palestine State was declared in the rest of the Palestine mandate.
        
        Not off another member state. That was the price paid by Arab nations not accepting the UN decision and then not winning in the fight for all of the mandate area.
        
        The larger state of Israel (than the 1947 partition plan) was accepted as a member state of the UN.
        
        While it now occupies the WB, East Jerusalem and Gaza, these are not recognised as part of Israel by the UN.
        
        Syria's borders as a member state of the UN are unchanged. Israeli occupied in 1967 and annexed in 1981, part of the Golan Heights – this is not recognised by the UN, but by the USA since 2019).
        
        Reply
      - mikesh 12.1.2.1.2
        
        25 March 2025 at 9:59 pm
        
        Turkish Cypris?
        
        Reply
        
        SPC 12.1.2.1.2.1
        
        25 March 2025 at 10:24 pm
        
        The Turkish occupied area of Cyprus is not recognised as a separate nation by the UN, nor as part of Turkey.
        
        Reply
  - mikesh 12.1.3
    
    26 March 2025 at 8:39 am
    
    And to acquire land by force of arms has been illegal since 1949.
    
    Well they do say that "possession is nine tenths of the law". But in any case Russia will never give the territory back. And if the US were to grab all or part of Canada by force the UN would have to change its mind about that law since the US would probably not give the territory back either.
    
    Reply
    - SPC 12.1.3.1
      
      26 March 2025 at 9:15 am
      
      Not in the UN. No other nation would recognise it.
      
      Over 100 nations of the UN recognise a Palestine state despite occupation of Gaza and the West Bank since 1947.
      
      Reply
- Belladonna 12.2
  
  25 March 2025 at 8:00 pm
  
  What is this 'Russia' of which you speak? The country which has only been in existence since the dissolution of the Soviet Union?
  What possible claim can it have to other republics – which rapidly took the opportunity to exit their forced Soviet political marriage.
  
  In any case, your argument that might-makes-right – makes all of this pseudo-historical posturing unnecessary. Apparently, in your view, Putin has the power to take the territory – and no one has the 'right' to stop him.
  
  Reply
  - mikesh 12.2.1
    
    25 March 2025 at 9:36 pm
    
    In any case, your argument that might-makes-right – makes all of this pseudo-historical posturing unnecessary. Apparently, in your view, Putin has the power to take the territory – and no one has the 'right' to stop him.
    
    By your arument, if a country wants to attack another country, and has good cause to do so, all the other country has to do to defend itself is to say "you can't attack us, its not allowed, we are a sovereign state". Cor blimey, a country could get away with blue murder if that was all it had to do.
    
    Presumably,by your reckoning, the US states on its eastern seabord still belong to Great Britain. Great Britain itself probably belongs to Normandy.
    
    Reply
    - aj 12.2.1.1
      
      25 March 2025 at 10:44 pm
      
      Where does Israeli violation of Palestinian sovereignty fit into this free for all.
      
      Reply
      - mikesh 12.2.1.1.1
        
        26 March 2025 at 7:58 am
        
        I'm sure you are itching to tell us.
        
        Reply
        
        aj 12.2.1.1.1.1
        
        26 March 2025 at 10:42 am
        
        States will only criticise other countries actions when it suits their interests, in fact will take diametricly opposite positions in other cases. I am supportive of international law but the rules based order is a complete crock.
        
        Reply
        
        Res Publica …
        
        26 March 2025 at 10:57 am
        
        I am supportive of international law but the rules based order is a complete crock.
        
        Then what kind of international order would you support then?
        
        Reply
        
        mikesh …
        
        26 March 2025 at 2:57 pm
        
        Then what kind of international order would you support then?
        
        Not one in which the rules advantaged some states to the detriment of others.
        
        Reply
    - Belladonna 12.2.1.2
      
      26 March 2025 at 10:29 am
      
      Well, yes, that's exactly what the UN is about.
      Since 1949 there is an international agreement which prevents states from unilaterally changing their borders.
      
      By that reckoning, the occupation of Crimea by Russia – is patently illegal.
      
      Not that I expect a Russian apologist to admit this.
      
      Reply
      - mikesh 12.2.1.2.1
        
        26 March 2025 at 2:44 pm
        
        There were two referenda at the time. The first inicated that the people wanted to be an independent state, so not part of Ukraine. They then had another in which, as an inpendent state, they indicated that they wished to be part of Russia.
        
        Reply
  - mikesh 12.2.2
    
    26 March 2025 at 8:54 am
    
    and no one has the 'right' to stop him.
    
    I didn't say that, and I don't think I even implied it.
    
    Reply
    - Belladonna 12.2.2.1
      
      26 March 2025 at 10:26 am
      
      Your claim that a state can only be sovereign if it can effectively defend itself from aggressors, certainly implies that it has no right to exist if the converse holds true.
      
      Reply
      - mikesh 12.2.2.1.1
        
        26 March 2025 at 2:52 pm
        
        I said a sovereign state must be able to defend itself. I used the word "must" in the tactical rather than the legal sense.
        i.e. it must be allowed to defend itself.
        
        Reply
francesca 13

26 March 2025 at 10:23 am

So Kosovo is illegal?

And I guess the Golan Heights and now further areas of Syria.US troops still occupying the oilfields of Syria

Where is the condemnation and analogies of Hitler

Reply
- weka 13.1
  
  26 March 2025 at 10:29 am
  
  what's your point?
  
  Reply
  - Francesca 13.1.1
    
    26 March 2025 at 1:31 pm
    
    Reply to Belladonna
    
    Reply
- SPC 13.2
  
  26 March 2025 at 12:52 pm
  
  Syria today is an unusual one.
  
  Russia still has air and sea bases there (not so many people).
  
  Turkey occupies a northern region and created an Arab force to kill Syrian Kurds.
  
  But America …
  
  The US presence in the oil field area first denied it to IS and then protected the area from the said Arab force and also Turkish air attacks on Kurds (they run prisons for defeated IS forces). The Kurds were the major force on the ground with Americans in taking out IS there.
  
  Syria has asked for the Turkish armed Arab force to become part of their army. The Kurds doing so is more complicated, given the fate of the IS prisoners (some of whom are war criminals) and there is not as yet a new Syrian government, just an occupying force.
  
  And it might take time for Turkey to agree to end its military presence and cease military actions on a regional people of another nation state (its on going war crimes) this will take time, given the nature of Erdogan's nationalist politics.
  
  Kosovo is a bit like Abkhazia and South Ossetia (both taken off Georgia by Russia), why mention Kosovo and not them?
  
  As for 2/3rd of the Golan Heights being occupied and then annexed (1981), the annexation recognised in 2019 by Trump and not quashed by his partner in Israel can stay but we will walk away from the women of Afghanistan (Joseph Biden).
  
  America has a Christian dominionist manifest destiny cult problem with its relationship to Zionist Israel.
  
  Will Felicity, now the American Diplomat, solve this problem?
  
  Postscript – Alice in Wonderland with Guernica overtones
  
  Or will Witkoff, Kushner and Trump redevelop Gaza as the 51st state?
  
  God's waiting room for Palestinian civilians and then God's Area 51 Rapture centre aged care home for rich retired people of the prosperity religion (oligarchs of more than one continent) who can afford the property values by the seaside.
  
  But if diplomacy – surely if Lebanon and Syria choose peace the 1949 Golan Height borders will be in play (land for peace).
  
  But what then of Palestinians vs the will of eretz Israel Zionists and the Americans and the agenda for a one party state Christian dominionism that leads to who knows where?
  
  Reply
  - SPC 13.2.1
    
    26 March 2025 at 2:10 pm
    
    Understanding Yugoslavia, by Cameron Hewitt
    
    Thorough as.
    
    https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/understanding-yugoslavia
    
    Reply

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1 day ago
Tuesday 25 March

A new employment survey shows that labour market pessimism has deepened as workers worry about holding to their job, the difficulty in finding jobs, and slowing wage growth. Nurses working in primary care will get an 8 percent pay increase this year, but it still leaves them lagging behind their ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

1 day ago
Big Gun

Big gunBig gun number oneBig gunBig gun kick the hell out of youSongwriters: Ascencio / Marrow.On Sunday, I wrote about the Prime Minister’s interview in India with Maiki Sherman and certainly didn’t think I’d be writing about another of his interviews two days later.I’d been thinking of writing about something ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

1 day ago
Economic security and geostrategic competition: tariffs don’t equal coercion

The Trump administration’s decision to impose tariffs on Australian aluminium and steel has surprised the country. This has caused some to question the logic of the Australia-United States alliance and risks legitimising China’s economic coercion. ...

The StrategistBy James Corera

1 day ago
NZ Government, an Atlas Network puppet, intent on ruining public healthcare

OPINION & ANALYSIS:At the heart of everything we see in this government is simplicity. Things are simpler than they appear. Mountain Tui is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Behind all the public relations, marketing spin, corporate overlay e.g. ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

1 day ago
China will need 10,000GW of wind and solar by 2060

This is a re-post from Carbon Brief by Wang Zhongying, chief national expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute, and Kaare Sandholt, chief international expert, China Energy Transformation Programme of the Energy Research Institute China will need to install around 10,000 gigawatts (GW) of wind and solar capacity ...

Skeptical Science

1 day ago
Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes for Tuesday, March 26

Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

1 day ago
Most people want a people-friendly city

With many of Auckland’s political and bureaucratic leaders bowing down to vocal minorities and consistently failing to reallocate space to people in our city, recent news overseas has prompted me to point out something important. It is extremely popular to make car-dominated cities nicer, by freeing up space for people. ...

Greater AucklandBy Connor Sharp

1 day ago
Indonesia wants an aircraft carrier. No one knows why

When it comes to fleet modernisation programme, the Indonesian navy seems to be biting off more than it can chew. It is not even clear why the navy is taking the bite. The news that ...

The StrategistBy Gilang Kembara

1 day ago
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3753486518085091399.post-2287094456929079731

Chris Trotter is now on Substack visit him at christrotter418256.substack.com ...

Bowalley Road

2 days ago
Australia should work with South Korea to secure undersea cables

South Korea and Australia should enhance their cooperation to secure submarine cables, which carry more than 95 percent of global data traffic. As tensions in the Indo-Pacific intensify, these vital connections face risks from cyber ...

The StrategistBy Jihoon Yu

2 days ago
Parliament says “no” to transparency

The Parliament Bill Committee has reported back on the Parliament Bill. As usual, they recommend no substantive changes, all decisions having been made in advance and in secret before the bill was introduced - but there are some minor tweaks around oversight of the new parliamentary security powers, which will ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

2 days ago
Bolt from the blue: what we know (and don’t know) about the US’s powerful F-47 fighter

When the F-47 enters service, at a date to be disclosed, it will be a new factor in US air warfare. A decision to proceed with development, deferred since July, was unexpectedly announced on 21 ...

The StrategistBy Bill Sweetman

2 days ago
Yesterday Once More

All my best memoriesCome back clearly to meSome can even make me cry.Just like beforeIt's yesterday once more.Songwriters: Richard Lynn Carpenter / John BettisYesterday, Winston Peters gave a State of the Nation speech in which he declared War on the Woke, described peaceful protesters as fascists, said he’d take our ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

2 days ago
Can we now find out who the real Vladimir Putin is?

Regardless of our opinions about the politicians involved, I believe that every rational person should welcome the reestablishment of contacts between the USA and the Russian Federation. While this is only the beginning and there are no guarantees of success, it does create the opportunity to address issues ...

Open ParachuteBy Ken

2 days ago
The transatlantic world will never be the same

Once upon a time, the United States saw the contest between democracy and authoritarianism as a singularly defining issue. It was this outlook, forged in the crucible of World War II, that created such strong ...

The StrategistBy Carl Bildt

2 days ago
30% of doctors leave NZ after graduation

A pre-Covid protest about medical staffing shortages outside the Beehive. Since then the situation has only worsened, with 30% of doctors trained here now migrating within a decade. File Photo: Lynn GrievesonMōrena. Long stories shortest: The news this morning is dominated by the crises cascading through our health system after ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 days ago
Monday 24 March

Bargaining between the PSA and Oranga Tamariki over the collective agreement is intensifying – with more strike action likely, while the Employment Relations Authority has ordered facilitation. More than 850 laboratory staff are walking off their jobs in a week of rolling strike action. Union coverage CTU: Confidence in ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

2 days ago
The permanent Australia-China contest in the South Pacific

Foreign Minister Penny Wong in 2024 said that ‘we’re in a state of permanent contest in the Pacific—that’s the reality.’ China’s arrogance hurts it in the South Pacific. Mark that as a strong Australian card ...

The StrategistBy Graeme Dobell

2 days ago
Bernard’s Picks ‘n’ Mixes on Monday, March 24

Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

2 days ago
Gordon Campbell on Israel’s murderous relapse, and Peters’ sad decline

In the past week, Israel has reverted to slaughtering civilians, starving children and welshing on the terms of the peace deal negotiated earlier this year. The IDF’s current offensive seems to be intended to render Gaza unlivable, preparatory (perhaps) to re-occupation by Israeli settlers. The short term demands for the ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

3 days ago
2025 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #12

A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 16, 2025 thru Sat, March 22, 2025. This week's roundup is again published by category and sorted by number of articles included in each. We are still interested ...

Skeptical Science

3 days ago
Bullying a Chess Bot: More Martinian Shenanigans

In recent months, I have garnered copious amusement playing Martin, chess.com’s infamously terrible Chess AI. Alas, it is not how it once was, when he would cheerfully ignore freely offered material. Martin has grown better since I first stumbled upon him. I still remain frustrated at his capture-happy determination to ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

3 days ago
Indian Summer

Every time that I see ya,A lightning bolt fills the room,The underbelly of Paris,She sings her favourite tune,She'll drink you under the table,She'll show you a trick or two,But every time that I left her,I missed the things she would doSongwriters: Kelly JonesThis morning, I posted - Are you excited ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

3 days ago
Bernard’s Soliloquy for the week to March 23

Long stories shortest this week in our political economy: Standard & Poor’s judged the Government’s council finance reforms a failure. Professional investors showed the Government they want it to borrow more, not less. GDP bounced out of recession by more than forecast in the December quarter, but data for the ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

3 days ago
Making sense of it all

Each day at 4:30 my brother calls in at the rest home to see Dad. My visits can be months apart. Five minutes after you've left, he’ll have forgotten you were there, but every time, his face lights up and it’s a warm happy visit.Tim takes care of almost everything ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

3 days ago
A Response to ACT’s MRA-Style Rant

On the 19th of March, ACT announced they would be running candidates in this year’s local government elections. Accompanying that call for “common-sense kiwis” was an anti-woke essay typifying the views they expect their candidates to hold. I have included that part of their mailer, Free Press, in its entirety. ...

Sapphi’s SubstackBy Stephanie Cullen

4 days ago
Spread a Little Happiness

Even when the darkest clouds are in the skyYou mustn't sigh and you mustn't crySpread a little happiness as you go byPlease tryWhat's the use of worrying and feeling blue?When days are long keep on smiling throughSpread a little happiness 'til dreams come trueSongwriters: Vivian Ellis / Clifford Grey / ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

4 days ago
Pick ‘n’ Mix at 6am on Saturday, March 22

Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

4 days ago
Siding with the Right Of the Right

ACT up the game on division politicsEmmerson’s take on David Seymour’s claim Jesus would have supported ACTACT’s announcement it is moving into local politics is a logical next step for a party that is waging its battle on picking up the aggrieved.It’s a numbers game, and as long as the ...

Mountain TuiBy Mountain Tūī

5 days ago
Jam tomorrow, butter next week

1. What will be the slogan of the next butter ad campaign?a. You’re worth itb. Once it hits $20, we can do something about the riversc. I can’t believe it’s the price of butter d. None of the above Read more ...

More Than A FeildingBy David Slack

5 days ago
Why Do Cryptocurrencies Appear to Be So Valuable?

It is said that economists know the price of everything and the value of nothing. That may be an exaggeration but an even better response is to point out economists do know the difference. They did not at first. Classical economics thought that the price of something reflected the objective ...

PunditBy Brian Easton

5 days ago
Awful optics: political fighting in Taiwan stalls part of defence budget rise

Political fighting in Taiwan is delaying some of an increase in defence spending and creating an appearance of lack of national resolve that can only damage the island’s relationship with the Trump administration. The main ...

The StrategistBy Jane Rickards

5 days ago
The Independent Intelligence Review is finally out, and it’s a worthy sequel

The unclassified version of the 2024 Independent Intelligence Review (IIR) was released today. It’s a welcome and worthy sequel to its 2017 predecessor, with an ambitious set of recommendations for enhancements to Australia’s national intelligence ...

The StrategistBy Chris Taylor

5 days ago
Law, culture, and the OIA

Yesterday outgoing Ombudsman Peter Boshier published a report, Reflections on the Official Information Act, on his way out the door. The report repeated his favoured mantra that the Act was "fundamentally sound", all problems were issues of culture, and that no legislative change was needed (and especially no changes to ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

5 days ago
A new US humanitarian agency must operate without political blinders

The United States government is considering replacing USAID with a new agency, the US Agency for International Humanitarian Assistance (USIHA), according to documents published by POLITICO. Under the proposed design, the agency will fail its ...

The StrategistBy Mike Copage

5 days ago
Worming Through Dangerous Times

Hi,Journalism was never the original plan. Back in the 90s, there was no career advisor in Bethlehem, New Zealand — just a computer that would ask you 50 questions before spitting out career options. Yes, I am in this photo. No, I was not good at basketball.The top three careers ...

David FarrierBy David Farrier

5 days ago
Why is the Govt so afraid of borrowing?

Mōrena. Long stories shortest: Professional investors who are paid a lot of money to be careful about lending to the New Zealand Government think it is wonderful place to put their money. Yet the Government itself is so afraid of borrowing more that it is happy to kill its own ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

5 days ago
The future of the Combined Space Operations initiative

As space becomes more contested, Australia should play a key role with its partners in the Combined Space Operations (CSpO) initiative to safeguard the space domain. Australia, Britain, Canada and the United States signed the ...

The StrategistBy Malcolm Davis

5 days ago
Dave’s Cats

Ooh you're a cool catComing on strong with all the chit chatOoh you're alrightHanging out and stealing all the limelightOoh messing with the beat of my heart yeah!Songwriters: Freddie Mercury / John Deacon.It would be a tad ironic; I can see it now. “Yeah, I didn’t unsubscribe when he said ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

5 days ago
Friday 21 March

The PSA are calling the Prime Minister a hypocrite for committing to increase defence spending while hundreds of more civilian New Zealand Defence Force jobs are set to be cut as part of a major restructure. The number of companies being investigated for people trafficking in New Zealand has skyrocketed ...

NZCTUBy Jack McDonald

5 days ago
Weekly Roundup 21-March-2025

Another Friday, hope everyone’s enjoyed their week as we head toward the autumn equinox. Here’s another roundup of stories that caught our eye on the subject of cities and what makes them even better. This week in Greater Auckland On Monday, Connor took a look at how Auckland ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

5 days ago
A special Hoon with Michael Wolff, author of four books on Donald Trump

The podcast above of the weekly ‘Hoon’ webinar for paying subscribers on Thursday night features co-hosts & talking with special guest author Michael Wolff, who has just published his fourth book about Donald Trump: ‘All or Nothing’.Here’s Peter’s writeup of the interview.The Kākā by Bernard Hickey Hoon: Trumpism ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

5 days ago
Hoon: Trumpism dies with Trump says Wolff

Wolff, who describes Trump as truly a ‘one of a kind’, at a book launch in Spain. Photo: GettyImagesIt may be a bumpy ride for the world but the era of Donald J. Trump will die with him if we can wait him out says the author of four best-sellers ...

The KakaBy Peter Bale

5 days ago
The ADF reserve system is obsolete. We need a dramatically expanded force

Australia needs to radically reorganise its reserves system to create a latent military force that is much larger, better trained and equipped and deployable within days—not decades. Our current reserve system is not fit for ...

The StrategistBy Ross Babbage

5 days ago
Pick ‘n’ Mix at 6am on Friday, March 21

Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, Washington Post/$, Wired/$, ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

5 days ago
Against All Reason: William Blake and the Private Fantasy Mythology

I have argued before that one ought to be careful in retrospectively allocating texts into genres. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) only looks like science-fiction because a science-fiction genre subsequently developed. Without H.G. Wells, would Frankenstein be considered science-fiction? No, it probably wouldn’t. Viewed in the context of its time, Frankenstein ...

A Phuulish FellowBy strda221

6 days ago
Skeptical Science New Research for Week #12 2025

Open access notables The severe 2020 coral bleaching event in the tropical Atlantic linked to marine heatwaves, Rodrigues et al., Communications Earth & Environment: Marine heatwaves can amplify the vulnerabilities of regional marine ecosystems and jeopardise local economies and food resources. Here, we show that marine heatwaves in the tropical ...

Skeptical Science

6 days ago
Elbridge Colby’s vision: blocking China

Elbridge Colby’s senate confirmation hearing in early March holds more important implications for US partners than most observers in Canberra, Wellington or Suva realise. As President Donald Trump’s nominee for under secretary of defence for ...

The StrategistBy Gregory Brown

6 days ago
China’s military spending rises should prompt regional budget responses

China’s defence budget is rising heftily yet again. The 2025 rise will be 7.2 percent, the same as in 2024, the government said on 5 March. But the allocation, officially US$245 billion, is just the ...

The StrategistBy Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan

6 days ago
Pressure grows for commonsense correction on safe local speeds

Concern is growing about wide-ranging local repercussions of the new Setting of Speed Limits rule, rewritten in 2024 by former transport minister Simeon Brown. In particular, there’s growing fears about what this means for children in particular. A key paradox of the new rule is that NZTA-controlled roads have the ...

Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland

6 days ago
Luxon’s Guests.

Speilmeister: Christopher Luxon’s prime-ministerial pitches notwithstanding, are institutions with billions of dollars at their disposal really going to invest them in a country so obviously in a deep funk?HAVING WOOED THE WORLD’s investors, what, if anything, has New Zealand won? Did Christopher Luxon’s guests board their private jets fizzing with enthusiasm for ...

Bowalley Road

6 days ago
S&P downgrades 18 councils, blaming Govt

Christchurch City Council is one of 18 councils and three council-controlled organisations (CCOs) downgraded by ratings agency S&P. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMōrena. Long stories shortest: Standard & Poor’s has cut the credit ratings of 18 councils, blaming the new Government’s abrupt reversal of 3 Waters, cuts to capital ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

6 days ago
Recession ends – Economic challenges remain

Figures released by Statistics New Zealand today showed that the economy grew by 0.7% ending the very deep recession seen over the past year, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney. “Even though GDP grew in the three months to December, our economy is still 1.1% smaller than it ...

NZCTUBy Jeremiah Boniface

6 days ago
Maybe there’s a connection?

What is going on with the price of butter?, RNZ, 19 march 2025: If you have bought butter recently you might have noticed something - it is a lot more expensive. Stats NZ said last week that the price of butter was up 60 percent in February compared to ...

No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant

6 days ago
I, too, got a few things wrong

I agree with Will Leben, who wrote in The Strategist about his mistakes, that an important element of being a commentator is being accountable and taking responsibility for things you got wrong. In that spirit, ...

The StrategistBy Melissa Conley Tyler

6 days ago
Commandments & Cures

You’d beDrunk by noon, no one would knowJust like the pandemicWithout the sourdoughIf I were there, I’d find a wayTo get treated for hysteriaEvery dayLyrics Riki Lindhome.A varied selection today in Nick’s Kōrero:Thou shalt have no other gods - with Christopher Luxon.Doctors should be seen and not heard - with ...

Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel

6 days ago
Australia needs greater defence self-reliance, and extra funding

Two recent foreign challenges suggest that Australia needs urgently to increase its level of defence self-reliance and to ensure that the increased funding that this would require is available. First, the circumnavigation of our continent ...

The StrategistBy Paul Dibb and Richard Brabin-Smith

6 days ago
Pick ‘n’ Mix at 6am on Thursday, March 20

Here’s my selection1 of scoops, breaking news, news, analyses, deep-dives, features, interviews, Op-Eds, editorials and cartoons from around Aotearoa’s political economy on housing, climate and poverty from RNZ, 1News, The Post-$2, The Press−$, Newsroom/$3, NZ Herald/$, Stuff, BusinessDesk/$, Politik-$, NBR-$, Reuters, FT/$, WSJ/$, Bloomberg/$, New York Times/$, The Atlantic-$, The ...

The KakaBy Bernard Hickey

6 days ago
Gordon Campbell on Winston Peters’ bad trip, and the return of the PPPs zombie

According to RNZ’s embedded reporter, the importance of Winston Peters’ talks in Washington this week “cannot be overstated.” Right. “Exceptionally important.” said the maestro himself. This epic importance doesn’t seem to have culminated in anything more than us expressing our “concern” to the Americans about a series of issues that ...

WerewolfBy ScoopEditor

7 days ago
Climate Fresk – a neat way to make the complexity of climate change less puzzling

Up until a few weeks ago, I had never heard of "Climate Fresk" and at a guess, this will also be the case for many of you. I stumbled upon it in the self-service training catalog for employees at the company I work at in Germany where it was announced ...

Skeptical Science

7 days ago
Japan and Australia can fill each other’s defence gaps

Japan and Australia talk of ‘collective deterrence,’ but they don’t seem to have specific objectives. The relationship needs a clearer direction. The two countries should identify how they complement each other. Each country has two ...

The StrategistBy Rintaro Inoue

7 days ago

Release: Kiwis lose faith in job market

Confidence in the job market has continued to drop to its lowest level in five years as more New Zealanders feel uncertain about finding work, keeping their jobs, and getting decent pay, according to the latest Westpac-McDermott Miller Employment Confidence Index. ...

Labour Blog

7 hours ago
Greens question Govt commitment to environmental protection with RMA reform

The Greens are calling on the Government to follow through on their vague promises of environmental protection in their Resource Management Act (RMA) reform. ...

Greens

2 days ago
Release: Govt must tackle meth use crisis

New data shows methamphetamine use is spiralling out of control while the Government sits on its hands. ...

Labour Blog

2 days ago
“Make New Zealand First Again”

“Make New Zealand First Again” Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, thank you for being here today. We know your lives are busy and you are working harder and longer than you ever have, and there are many calls on your time, so thank you for the chance to speak ...

NZ First Press Release

3 days ago
Release: Govt’s continued lack of action on Gaza condemned

Hundreds more Palestinians have died in recent days as Israel’s assault on Gaza continues and humanitarian aid, including food and medicine, is blocked. ...

Labour Blog

5 days ago
Release: National at sea over Defence jobs

National is looking to cut hundreds of jobs at New Zealand’s Defence Force, while at the same time it talks up plans to increase focus and spending in Defence. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Release: National standards returning by stealth

It’s been revealed that the Government is secretly trying to bring back a ‘one-size fits all’ standardised test – a decision that has shocked school principals. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Release: Kiwis still struggling as economy stumbles along

Kiwis aren’t feeling any better off despite figures showing a very slight growth in GDP in the December quarter. ...

Labour Blog

6 days ago
Greens call for compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe

The Green Party is calling for the compassionate release of Dean Wickliffe, a 77-year-old kaumātua on hunger strike at the Spring Hill Corrections Facility, after visiting him at the prison. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Another failed ETS auction, another indictment on the Govt’s climate credibility

The ETS auction’s failure today is yet another clear sign that the Government is failing us all on climate action. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Release: Luxon quick to give away principled position on nukes

Christopher Luxon seems to have thrown New Zealand’s principled anti-nuclear advocacy under a bus. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
NZ must act on Israel’s slaughter of children

The Green Party is calling on Government MPs to support Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence and illegal actions in Palestine, following another day of appalling violence against civilians in Gaza. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Release: Still no certainty for disability communities

One year on from the Government’s abrupt and callous changes to disability funding, the community still has no idea what the future holds. ...

Labour Blog

1 week ago
Green Party backs volunteer firefighters in their call for ACC recognition

The Green Party stands in support of volunteer firefighters petitioning the Government to step up and change legislation to provide volunteers the same ACC coverage and benefits as their paid counterparts. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Stand Up for Palestine: A Call to Action Against Israels Treacherous Attack

At 2.30am local time, Israel launched a treacherous attack on Gaza killing more than 300 defenceless civilians while they slept. Many of them were children. This followed a more than 2 week-long blockade by Israel on the entry of all goods and aid into Gaza. Israel deliberately targeted densely populated ...

Māori Party

1 week ago
MP Views: Living Strong, The Economy, Servicing Our Nation, The Golden Egg, and 4 Year Terms

Living Strong, Aging Well There is much discussion around the health of our older New Zealanders and how we can age well. In reality, the delivery of health services accounts for only a relatively small percentage of health outcomes as we age. Significantly, dry warm housing, nutrition, exercise, social connection, ...

NZ First Press Release

1 week ago
Shane Jones has no shame

Shane Jones’ display on Q&A showed how out of touch he and this Government are with our communities and how in sync they are with companies with little concern for people and planet. ...

Greens

1 week ago
Release: National botches health funding numbers

Health Minister Simeon Brown’s claim that the Government has put $16.68 billion into the health system over three years is wrong. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Government tramples on the rights of disabled migrant children

The Green Party is condemning the Government’s move to tighten access to visas for disabled children. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Auckland needs second harbour crossing

Labour supports Minister Chris Bishop’s call for input on the second Waitematā Harbour crossing. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Speech: Barbara Edmonds’ speech to NZ Investment Summit 2025

I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to you today about how we make overseas investment work for all New Zealanders. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour does not support PPPs for prisons

Labour does not support the private ownership of core infrastructure like schools, hospitals and prisons, which will only see worse outcomes for Kiwis. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Dunedin Futures report should be a wake-up call

The newly released report on the South Dunedin Future Programme must be a wake-up call for our Government. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Members’ Bill makes wage theft a crime

Workers will now be able to go to the Police and report their employer if they are not being paid wages they’re owed. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Missed opportunity to stop the stealing of Māori land

The Green Party is disappointed the Government voted down Hūhana Lyndon’s member’s Bill, which would have prevented further alienation of Māori land through the Public Works Act. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour supports sanctions against Israel’s illegal occupation

The Labour Party will support Chloe Swarbrick’s member’s bill which would allow sanctions against Israel for its illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Release: Govt procurement plan cuts wages and trashes the environment

The Government’s new procurement rules are a blatant attack on workers and the environment, showing once again that National’s priorities are completely out of touch with everyday Kiwis. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
Procurement proposals pose risk to people and planet

The Green Party is concerned by the impact the Government’s proposed changes to procurement processes could have on people and planet. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Just six Government MPs needed to pass Unlawful Occupation of Palestine Sanctions Bill

With Labour and Te Pāti Māori’s official support, Opposition parties are officially aligned to progress Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick’s Member’s Bill to sanction Israel for its unlawful presence in Palestine. ...

Greens

2 weeks ago
Release: Labour’s approach to Māori economy benefits all

Under Labour, the Māori economy went from strength to strength according to the latest report released by MBIE. ...

Labour Blog

2 weeks ago
20 Years of Success Down the Drain: Govt Gut Whānau Ora

Te Pāti Māori extends our deepest aroha to the 500 plus Whānau Ora workers who have been advised today that the govt will be dismantling their contracts. For twenty years , Whānau Ora has been helping families, delivering life-changing support through a kaupapa Māori approach. It has built trust where ...

Māori Party

3 weeks ago
Green Party launches petition to allow Pacific whānau visa-free access

The Green Party is launching a petition calling on the Government to extend visa-free travel to visitors from Pacific Island nations. ...

Greens

3 weeks ago
Release: Labour welcomes reinstatement of Heath NZ board

Labour welcomes Simeon Brown’s move to reinstate a board at Health New Zealand, bringing the destructive and secretive tenure of commissioner Lester Levy to an end. ...

Labour Blog

3 weeks ago
NZ’s Public Health system dealt yet another blow

This morning’s announcement by the Health Minister regarding a major overhaul of the public health sector levels yet another blow to the country’s essential services. ...

Greens

3 weeks ago
Release: Chris Hipkins’ State of the Nation address

Ngā mihi ki a koutou katoa It is a great pleasure to be here with you this morning. ...

Labour Blog

3 weeks ago
NZ First Introduces Bill to Remove Woke ‘DEI’ Regulations from Public Service

New Zealand First has introduced a Member’s Bill that will ensure employment decisions in the public service are based on merit and not on forced woke ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion’ targets. “This Bill would put an end to the woke left-wing social engineering and diversity targets in the public sector. ...

NZ First Press Release

3 weeks ago
Release: Labour outlines priorities of next Govt

The next Labour Government will prioritise jobs, health and homes so Kiwis and Kiwi businesses have the opportunity to thrive. ...

Labour Blog

3 weeks ago
Release: Refreshed team to drive Labour’s 2026 priorities

Labour leader Chris Hipkins has unveiled a new economic team as part of a caucus reshuffle. ...

Labour Blog

3 weeks ago
Release: Labour calls for end to police referrals to Destiny programmes

Police have referred 20 offenders to Destiny Church-affiliated programmes Man Up and Legacy as ‘wellness providers’ in the last year, raising concerns that those seeking help are being recruited into a harmful organisation. ...

Labour Blog

3 weeks ago

New planning laws to end the culture of ‘no’

The Government’s new planning legislation to replace the Resource Management Act will make it easier to get things done while protecting the environment, say Minister Responsible for RMA Reform Chris Bishop and Under-Secretary Simon Court. “The RMA is broken and everyone knows it. It makes it too hard to build ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
New Zealand & India Comprehensive FTA consultation begins

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay has today launched a public consultation on New Zealand and India’s negotiations of a formal comprehensive Free Trade Agreement. “Negotiations are getting underway, and the Public’s views will better inform us in the early parts of this important negotiation,” Mr McClay says. We are ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Cost of living support coming for 1.5 million New Zealanders

More than 900 thousand superannuitants and almost five thousand veterans are among the New Zealanders set to receive a significant financial boost from next week, an uplift Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says will help support them through cost-of-living challenges. “I am pleased to confirm that from 1 ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 days ago
Iwi join discussion on geothermal potential

Progressing a holistic strategy to unlock the potential of New Zealand’s geothermal resources, possibly in applications beyond energy generation, is at the centre of discussions with mana whenua at a hui in Rotorua today, Resources and Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. The Coalition Government is in the early stages ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Building consent data shows need for bold reforms

New annual data has exposed the staggering cost of delays previously hidden in the building consent system, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “I directed Building Consent Authorities to begin providing quarterly data last year to improve transparency, following repeated complaints from tradespeople waiting far longer than the statutory ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

5 days ago
Reining in water price increases for Aucklanders

Increases in water charges for Auckland consumers this year will be halved under the Watercare Charter which has now been passed into law, Local Government Minister Simon Watts and Auckland Minister Simeon Brown say. The charter is part of the financial arrangement for Watercare developed last year by Auckland Council ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
Strong interest in modernising biosecurity law

There is wide public support for the Government’s work to strengthen New Zealand’s biosecurity protections, says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. “The Ministry for Primary Industries recently completed public consultation on proposed amendments to the Biosecurity Act and the submissions show that people understand the importance of having a strong biosecurity ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
New independent review function for civil aviation decisions

A new independent review function will enable individuals and organisations to seek an expert independent review of specified civil aviation regulatory decisions made by, or on behalf of, the Director of Civil Aviation, Acting Transport Minister James Meager has announced today. “Today we are making it easier and more affordable ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
Enhanced urgent care service for Napier

The Government will invest in an enhanced overnight urgent care service for the Napier community as part of our focus on ensuring access to timely, quality healthcare, Health Minister Simeon Brown has today confirmed. “I am delighted that a solution has been found to ensure Napier residents will continue to ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
Construction begins on new adult mental health building in Christchurch

Health Minister Simeon Brown and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey attended a sod turning today to officially mark the start of construction on a new mental health facility at Hillmorton Campus. “This represents a significant step in modernising mental health services in Canterbury,” Mr Brown says. “Improving health infrastructure is ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
It’s official: Kiwis can look forward to better days

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has welcomed confirmation the economy has turned the corner. Stats NZ reported today that gross domestic product grew 0.7 per cent in the three months to December following falls in the June and September quarters. “We know many families and businesses are still suffering the after-effects ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
Sealing improves safety on Forgotten World Highway

The sealing of a 12-kilometre stretch of State Highway 43 (SH43) through the Tangarakau Gorge – one of the last remaining sections of unsealed state highway in the country – has been completed this week as part of a wider programme of work aimed at improving the safety and resilience ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
NZ – US relations on strong footing

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters says relations between New Zealand and the United States are on a strong footing, as he concludes a week-long visit to New York and Washington DC today. “We came to the United States to ask the new Administration what it wants from ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

6 days ago
International Anti-Money Laundering rule changes support government reforms

Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee has welcomed changes to international anti-money laundering standards which closely align with the Government’s reforms. “The Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) last month adopted revised standards for tackling money laundering and the financing of terrorism to allow for simplified regulatory measures for businesses, organisations and sectors ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

7 days ago
New electronic system to support pharmacy efficiency

Associate Health Minister David Seymour says he welcomes Medsafe’s decision to approve an electronic controlled drug register for use in New Zealand pharmacies, allowing pharmacies to replace their physical paper-based register. “The register, developed by Kiwi brand Toniq Limited, is the first of its kind to be approved in New ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
RIF delivering for regional NZ, more to come

The Coalition Government’s drive for regional economic growth through the $1.2 billion Regional Infrastructure Fund is on track with more than $550 million in funding so far committed to key infrastructure projects, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones says. “To date, the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) has received more than 250 ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
Comments following bilateral with US Secretary of State Rubio

[Comments following the bilateral meeting with United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio; United States State Department, Washington D.C.] * We’re very pleased with our meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio this afternoon. * We came here to listen to the new Administration and to be clear about what ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
New State Highway 2 roundabout to improve road safety in Eastern Bay of Plenty

The intersection of State Highway 2 (SH2) and Wainui Road in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be made safer and more efficient for vehicles and freight with the construction of a new and long-awaited roundabout, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop. “The current intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road is ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
Ocean Race returning to Auckland

The Ocean Race will return to the City of Sails in 2027 following the Government’s decision to invest up to $4 million from the Major Events Fund into the international event, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown says. “New Zealand is a proud sailing nation, and Auckland is well-known internationally as the ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
New associate psychology role to grow the mental health workforce

Improving access to mental health and addiction support took a significant step forward today with Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey announcing that the University of Canterbury have been the first to be selected to develop the Government’s new associate psychologist training programme. “I am thrilled that the University of Canterbury ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
First stage of Manukau Health Park expansion open to patients

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened the new East Building expansion at Manukau Health Park. “This is a significant milestone and the first stage of the Grow Manukau programme, which will double the footprint of the Manukau Health Park to around 30,000m2 once complete,” Mr Brown says. “Home ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
Proceeds of crime to fund safety measures in central Auckland

The Government will boost anti-crime measures across central Auckland with $1.3 million of funding as a result of the Proceeds of Crime Fund, Auckland Minister Simeon Brown and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee say. “In recent years there has been increased antisocial and criminal behaviour in our CBD. The Government ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
Consultation on options to strengthen food waste for pigs regulations

The Government is moving to strengthen rules for feeding food waste to pigs to protect New Zealand from exotic animal diseases like foot and mouth disease (FMD), says Biosecurity Minister Andrew Hoggard. ‘Feeding untreated meat waste, often known as "swill", to pigs could introduce serious animal diseases like FMD and ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
PMs Luxon & Modi deepen NZ-India ties

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held productive talks in New Delhi today. Fresh off announcing that New Zealand and India would commence negotiations towards a Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the two Prime Ministers released a joint statement detailing plans for further cooperation between the two countries across ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
New Zealand & India strengthen forestry ties

Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the forestry sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
New Zealand & India strengthen horticultural ties

Agriculture and Trade Minister Todd McClay signed a new Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) today during the Prime Minister’s Indian Trade Mission, reinforcing New Zealand’s commitment to enhancing collaboration with India in the horticulture sector. “Our relationship with India is a key priority for New Zealand, and this agreement reflects our ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
Family Court Judges appointed

Attorney-General Judith Collins today announced the appointment of two new Family Court Judges. The new Judges will take up their roles in April and May and fill Family Court vacancies at the Auckland and Manukau courts. Annette Gray Ms Gray completed her law degree at Victoria University before joining Phillips ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
New High Dependency Unit will expand critical care services in Wellington

Health Minister Simeon Brown has today officially opened Wellington Regional Hospital’s first High Dependency Unit (HDU). “This unit will boost critical care services in the lower North Island, providing extra capacity and relieving pressure on the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and emergency department. “Wellington Regional Hospital has previously relied ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
RAISINA DIALOGUE 2025: KĀLACHAKRA – PEOPLE, PEACE AND PLANET

Namaskar, Sat Sri Akal, kia ora and good afternoon everyone. What an honour it is to stand on this stage - to inaugurate this august Dialogue - with none other than the Honourable Narendra Modi. My good friend, thank you for so generously welcoming me to India and for our ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

1 week ago
Speech to NZ Infrastructure Investment Summit

Check against delivery.Kia ora koutou katoa It’s a real pleasure to join you at the inaugural New Zealand infrastructure investment summit. I’d like to welcome our overseas guests, as well as our local partners, organisations, and others.I’d also like to acknowledge: The Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, and other Ministers from the Coalition ...

BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz

2 weeks ago

Vegetarian and vegan labelling would ‘eliminate ambiguity’ – advocates

Clear vegan and vegetarian food labelling should be put into legislation so consumers can be confident that what they are buying really meets their dietary requirements, say NZ's vegetarian and vegan societies. ...

Radio NZ – political

4 minutes ago
What makes a good search engine? These 4 models can help you use search in the age of AI

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Simon Coghlan, Senior Lecturer in Digital Ethics, Centre for AI and Digital Ethics, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne beast01/Shutterstock Every day, users ask search engines millions of questions. The information we receive can shape our opinions ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

32 minutes ago
Leak of US military plans on Signal is a classic case of ‘shadow IT’. It shows why security syst...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Toby Murray, Professor of Cybersecurity, School of Computing and Information Systems, The University of Melbourne Yesterday, The Atlantic magazine revealed an extraordinary national security blunder in the United States. Top US government officials had discussed plans for a bombing campaign in Yemen ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

33 minutes ago
Australia stands firm behind its foreign aid in the budget, but the future remains precarious

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Melissa Conley Tyler, Honorary Fellow, Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne This week’s budget will come as a relief to Australia’s neighbours in the Indo-Pacific that rely on development assistance. The Albanese government did not follow the lead of US President Donald ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

33 minutes ago
PSNA calls on NZ govt to condemn renewed Israel air strikes on Gaza – 320 killed

Asia Pacific Report A national Palestinian advocacy group has called on the Aotearoa New Zealand government to immediately condemn Israel for its resumption today of “genocidal attacks” on the almost 2 million Palestinians trapped in the besieged Gaza enclave. Media reports said that more than 320 people had been killed ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

48 minutes ago
‘Maybe a bored kid made it up?’ The mystery of Mairātea Mohi’s favourite childhood book

Welcome to The Spinoff Books Confessional, in which we get to know the reading habits of Aotearoa writers, and guests. This week: Mairātea Mohi (Te Arawa, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), publishing associate te reo Māori at Auckland University Press. The book I wish I’d written As a publisher, I know writing a ...

The SpinoffBy The Spinoff Review of Books

1 hour ago
Labour’s Peeni Henare not in contempt over ‘disorderly’ actions during Treaty Prin...

The committee recommended the Labour MP be "required to apologise". ...

Radio NZ – political

1 hour ago
What works to prevent violence against women? Here’s what the evidence says

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kristin Diemer, Associate Professor of Sociology, The University of Melbourne Journalist and activist Jess Hill’s Quarterly Essay argues Australia’s primary prevention framework to end violence against women isn’t working. Hill says the framework focuses too much on addressing gender inequality and ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 hours ago
Budget delivers cheaper medicines and more bulk billing but leaves out long-term health reform

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Henry Cutler, Professor and Director, Macquarie University Centre for the Health Economy, Macquarie University Less than two months from an election, the Albanese government last night presented a budget that aims to swing the voting pendulum its way. Headline health expenditure ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 hours ago
How Netflix has shaped (and shattered) our content landscape over the past decade – and what comes...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alexa Scarlata, Research Fellow, Media & Communication, RMIT University Shutterstock To mark 10 years since Netflix began operating in Australia, we and our colleagues at the Streaming Industries and Genres Network have published a report that looks at the state of ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 hours ago
PNG’s Marape and NZ’s Luxon sign new partnership marking 50 years

RNZ News The prime ministers of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea have signed a new statement of partnership marking 50 years of bilateral relations between the two countries. The document — which focuses on education, trade, security, agriculture and fisheries — was signed by Christopher Luxon and James Marape ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

2 hours ago
Is this the right budget for these economic times? We asked 5 experts

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Treasurer Jim Chalmers has described the income tax cuts in this week’s federal budget as a “top-up”. They will amount to roughly one cup of coffee a week for every taxpayer in the first year. But they ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

2 hours ago
Fears over minister’s bid to loosen psychologist rules

The proposal is alarming clinical psychologists, who say less trained staff could put patients at risk. ...

Radio NZ – political

3 hours ago
My crummy old flat, with my crummy old furniture, just sold for $1,980,000

It has no insulation, flaking paint, questionable pipes and all my old furniture and artwork. At the auction, bidding was competitive. Embarrassingly, my algorithm knows that I like to browse real estate listings online. The ones I like best are old and tatty, places where the cabinetry in the kitchen ...

The SpinoffBy Gabi Lardies

3 hours ago
A $33 billion vote-grabber or real relief? Examining the Albanese government’s big housing pledge

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ehsan Noroozinejad, Senior Researcher, Urban Transformations Research Centre, Western Sydney University Man As Thep/Shutterstock The Australian housing market is in crisis: soaring prices, increasing rental stress, declining home ownership rates and a growing number of people experiencing homelessness. In response, ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

3 hours ago
Protecting salmon farming at the expense of the environment – another step backwards for Australia...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phillipa C. McCormack, Future Making Fellow, Environment Institute, University of Adelaide A bill introduced to parliament this week, if passed, would limit the government’s power to reconsider certain environment approvals when an activity is harming the environment. It fulfils Prime Minister ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

3 hours ago
Trump silences Voice of America – end of a propaganda machine or void for China and Russia to fil...

ANALYSIS: By Valerie A. Cooper, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Of all the contradictions and ironies of Donald Trump’s second presidency so far, perhaps the most surprising has been his shutting down the US Agency for Global Media (USAGM) for being “radical propaganda”. Critics have long accused ...

Evening ReportBy Asia Pacific Report

3 hours ago
National MP’s Bill Raises Environmental And Constitutional Concerns

Lawyers for Climate Action NZ Inc says the Members’ Bill lodged by Joseph Mooney seeking to prohibit tort claims arising from or related to climate change matters raises serious issues for both the environment and the constitutional role of the ...

Scoop politics

3 hours ago
Greenpeace Shocked By Govt MP’s Attempt To Strip New Zealanders’ Democratic Rights

This bill would have a chilling effect on New Zealanders’ democratic rights and our ability to secure a liveable future for our kids and grandkids, says Greenpeace spokesperson Amanda Larsson. ...

Scoop politics

4 hours ago
Drug-driving testing legislation passes despite concerns

The roadside drug testing regime is expected to be in place by December, with the government wanting police to undertake 50,000 tests a year. ...

Radio NZ – political

4 hours ago
Echo Chamber: Gerry Brownlee loses control of the classroom

Go easy on the speaker – corralling 123 overgrown children must be every school teacher’s worst nightmare. Echo Chamber is The Spinoff’s dispatch from the press gallery, recapping sessions in the House. Columns are written by politics reporter Lyric Waiwiri-Smith and Wellington editor Joel MacManus. It’s been nearly two weeks ...

The SpinoffBy Lyric Waiwiri-Smith

4 hours ago
Stuck in: Meet three people whose weekend hobbies have taken on a life of their own

Creative projects are good for your wellbeing. And for many, the weekends are the perfect opportunity to get stuck in. New Zealanders love weekend projects. From tinkering with old machinery, to painting, building a shoe cabinet, playing an instrument, or gardening, New Zealanders find a wealth of ways to unleash ...

The SpinoffBy Naomii Seah

5 hours ago
New Zealand Government Seeks Closer Ties With Trump, Modi Administrations

The visits took place amid a sharp lurch to the right by ruling elites around the world in response to the escalating global economic crisis of capitalism and the US-led drive to imperialist war. New Zealand is embroiled in these developments. ...

Scoop politics

6 hours ago
Chris Hipkins unimpressed with government’s RMA invitation

The government needs to compromise if it wants bipartisan support, the Labour leader says. ...

Radio NZ – political

6 hours ago
Critical thinking is more important than ever. How can I improve my skills?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Ellerton, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy and Education; Curriculum Director, UQ Critical Thinking Project, The University of Queensland Siora Photography/Unsplash There is a Fox News headline that goes like this: Transgender female runner who beat 14,000 women at London Marathon ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

6 hours ago
‘We don’t have a cultural place for men as victims’: why men often don’t tell anyone about s...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vita Pilkington, Research Fellow, PhD Candidate in men’s experiences of sexual trauma, The University of Melbourne Kristi Blokhin/Shutterstock In Australia, it’s estimated almost one in five boys (18.8%) experience child sexual abuse. And at least one in 16 men (6.1%) experience ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

6 hours ago
Podcasting was once a rebel medium for diverse voices. Now it’s slowly being consumed by big media

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Corey Martin, Lecturer/Podcast Producer, Swinburne University of Technology Shutterstock Podcasting was once the underdog of the media world: a platform where anyone with a microphone and an idea could share their voice. With low barriers to entry and freedom from ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

6 hours ago
What has Christchurch done right to get so many people on bikes?

Yes, it’s flat, but there’s another crucial reason why so many Christchurch residents ride – the city’s extensive network of cycle lanes. Simon Kingham’s 9km commute, from Beckenham in south Christchurch to the University of Canterbury west of the CBD, is mostly on cycle lanes. “It’s only the first 400 ...

The SpinoffBy Shanti Mathias

6 hours ago
NZ treads water in Indo-Pacific defence as US, Australia make plans

The top US commander in the Indo-Pacific has given a glimpse of a war with China playbook, as US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth heads around the Pacific after revealing actual war plans to a journalist. ...

Radio NZ – political

7 hours ago
11-year-old put in mental health facility given two doses of antipsychotics, Minister says

Matt Doocey told Morning Report the situation is hugely distressing. ...

Radio NZ – political

7 hours ago
National standards by stealth? Why the government’s latest plan for schools might fail the history...

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jade Wrathall, Teaching Fellow, Te Kura Toi Tangata – School of Education, University of Waikato smolaw/Shutterstock The New Zealand government’s plan to purchase a standardised tool to assess reading, writing and mathematics for school children between Year 3 and 10 has ...

Evening ReportBy The Conversation

7 hours ago
Dame Jacinda Ardern joins Oxford University group training leaders

The former PM says she hopes to also contribute to thinking about deep challenges the world is facing. ...

Radio NZ – political

8 hours ago
The city that could be cut in half by proposed electorate changes

The Representation Commission has proposed changes to New Zealand’s parliamentary electorates ahead of the 2026 election, writes Madeleine Chapman in today’s extract from The Bulletin. To receive The Bulletin in full each weekday, sign up here. Wellington loses a seat In a suite of proposed changes, the Representation Commission has outlined ...

The SpinoffBy Madeleine Chapman

8 hours ago
‘Nightmare fuel’ – Kiwi soldier in Ukraine on the reality of drone warfare

Jordan O'Brien is on the frontlines: 'There's no sugar-coating it.' ...

Radio NZ – political

8 hours ago
INZ introducing automated decision-making in $336m overhaul

Machines will take over more jobs at Immigration New Zealand under a multi-million dollar upgrade. ...

Radio NZ – political

9 hours ago
Just how much influence does Ngāi Tahu have?

Planning consultants have told the High Court that tangata whenua in general, and Ngāi Tahu in particular, have substantial influence over freshwater policy and decisions.Tim Ensor, principal planner at Tonkin & Taylor, and Gerard Willis, a director of the firm Enfocus, appeared as Crown witnesses in the weeks-long case taken ...

NewsroomBy David Williams

9 hours ago
Covid-19: Politicians’ mixed feelings five years on from first lockdown

Politicians have mixed reflections on the government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, five years on from the first lockdown. ...

Radio NZ – political

9 hours ago
Watch: The moment NZ went into its first Covid lockdown

"These decisions will place the most significant restrictions on New Zealanders movements in modern history," then-PM Jacinda Ardern said in announcing our first Covid lockdown. ...

Radio NZ – political

9 hours ago
How new electorate boundaries could affect key races in the 2026 election

On Tuesday, the Electoral Commission released its proposed changes to electorate boundaries. Joel MacManus takes a closer look at a few electorates where new maps could mean big political changes. Rongotai Shifts left Julie Anne Genter was a surprise winner on election night when she became Rongotai’s first Green MP ...

The SpinoffBy Joel MacManus

10 hours ago
Inside the dying industry of cargo ship travel

Until 2020, it was possible to book a voyage on a cargo ship. Today, it’s virtually impossible, despite being a greener, languid alternative to air travel. Before the time of te Tiriti, there were few passenger ships. Crossing the Pacific in 1830? Usually, only a merchant could take you – ...

The SpinoffBy Talisker Scott Hunter

10 hours ago