Author Archive

The pandemic response is like driving a car

Written By: - Date published: 3:58 pm, November 19th, 2021 - 11 comments

Staying safe from Covid-19 this summer can be as simple as a few basic steps.

Auckland could become a ghost town this summer

Written By: - Date published: 3:09 pm, November 18th, 2021 - 39 comments

Domestic tourism could become extreme tourism this summer.

Get a haircut and get a real job

Written By: - Date published: 5:19 pm, October 24th, 2021 - 63 comments

While our eyes are peeled on the 90% vaccination target, the ground under our feet is shifting.

Mad Tuesday

Written By: - Date published: 7:58 pm, October 22nd, 2021 - 15 comments

NZ Government is jumping at the deep end by re-opening schools on Tuesday.

Terra Incognita

Written By: - Date published: 7:51 pm, October 9th, 2021 - 25 comments

The future can seem scary but we do not face it alone.

Gut Feeling and Common Sense

Written By: - Date published: 10:30 pm, October 6th, 2021 - 42 comments

With clear information people can and should be expected to make optimal and sub-optimal choices & decisions.

Priorities?

Written By: - Date published: 7:54 pm, October 3rd, 2021 - 16 comments

Is setting priorities just a matter of resources?

This turkey is struggling cooped up in a bubble

Written By: - Date published: 6:21 pm, September 29th, 2021 - 78 comments

Turkeys don’t vote for Christmas but Kiwis do, don’t they?

Fearmongering or telling it how it is?

Written By: - Date published: 5:14 pm, September 25th, 2021 - 29 comments

42 is not the meaning of life and 13 is not an unlucky number.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 pm, September 21st, 2021 - 26 comments

Government has taken a ‘calculated risk’ with opening up Auckland somewhat tonight.

A little bit of understanding can go a long way …

Written By: - Date published: 11:09 am, August 19th, 2021 - 18 comments

Our online Persona is not us, but just a mask.

We Need Better Politicians!

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 pm, August 2nd, 2021 - 24 comments

With the right people in power, we will get the answers we deserve, and our problems will melt away and scatter in a warm worriless wind.

What does The Standard mean for you?

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 20th, 2021 - 60 comments

Let’s hear from you in this unscientific survey!

The Non-Partisan Populism of Popper’s Paradox

Written By: - Date published: 6:18 pm, May 22nd, 2021 - 91 comments

When democracy and free speech are hijacked to silence others, they can no longer support their principles and become a contradictio in terminis.

The Problem with Personification in Politics

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 19th, 2021 - 12 comments

It is a grave mistake to treat Ministries as if they are real persons.

Einstein versus Trump*

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 18th, 2021 - 10 comments

Einstein tried to explain complex things and understand reality; Trump tried to explain it away and distort reality.

Covid Zeitgeist

Written By: - Date published: 12:04 pm, March 21st, 2021 - 31 comments

NZ politics needs recharging and renewal to move forward. We need more charging stations.

The Unbearable Lightness of the Bright-Line Test

Written By: - Date published: 4:20 pm, March 13th, 2021 - 96 comments

The bright-line test is a red herring and does nothing to deter housing speculation.

You have 30 min to get your business in order!

Written By: - Date published: 12:50 pm, March 12th, 2021 - 77 comments

Government should have announced the decision for Auckland to go down to Level 1 first thing this morning.

So, You Want To Buy Your First Home?

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, March 7th, 2021 - 75 comments

Money does not grow on trees, it grows on houses. It is pure magic!

An Introvert’s Guide to Spending Money*

Written By: - Date published: 1:38 pm, December 29th, 2020 - 30 comments

Don’t waste your money on shit, spend it on good shit.

Words of Outrage or Outrageous Action?

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, December 24th, 2020 - 30 comments

Do you reward rage with rage or do you ignore it and walk away quietly?

Tranquillum

Written By: - Date published: 7:28 pm, December 6th, 2020 - 134 comments

Don’t expect a jellyfish to grow a spine, they just bob along on the current and keep moving, gently, slowly, kindly.

A Bit About How (my) Moderation Works (at present)

Written By: - Date published: 9:58 pm, November 29th, 2020 - 26 comments

An attempt to clarify some misconceptions and dispel some urban myths about (my) moderation.

PPE from a Universe Far, Far Away

Written By: - Date published: 2:33 pm, August 22nd, 2020 - 11 comments

An antidote against the pounding waves of BS coming from inside and outside Aotearoa.

A Stunt Scene from Mission Impossible*

Written By: - Date published: 3:52 pm, August 17th, 2020 - 16 comments

In NZ politics, the perception of fairness matters more than actual fairness.

National Has Found a Moral Compass

Written By: - Date published: 3:46 pm, June 6th, 2020 - 34 comments

National has embarked on a moral crusade to not lose the Election.

Is National Just Inconsistent or Incompetent?

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, June 1st, 2020 - 65 comments

National’s new job-creation scheme appears to be inconsistent with their desire to fully re-instate the 90-day trial period.

Draconian Tourism or no Tourism?

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 27th, 2020 - 192 comments

If overseas tourists want to visit NZ, they may have to give up a little bit of their privacy to keep all of us safe.

How Not to Engage in Public Debate

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 15th, 2020 - 95 comments

The best way to engage in public debate on the lockdown is to be open, clear, and transparent and show the facts. A press release full of beliefs and reckons is unhelpful and irresponsible.

Are the Vultures Already Circling Above?

Written By: - Date published: 7:00 am, April 14th, 2020 - 116 comments

We cannot go back to business as usual after the lockdown but can we shape the way things will be for the greater good?