Chris Trotter

Turning Te Pāti Māori towards the urban Māori working-class would be an exceedingly dangerous move

Turning Te Pāti Māori towards the urban Māori working-class would be an exceedingly dangerous move

Chris Trotter notes that vast edifices, paid for by wealthy aristocrats to secure favours, have historically been the special preserve of kings and emperors, not democratically-elected and democratically-accountable presidents

Chris Trotter notes that vast edifices, paid for by wealthy aristocrats to secure favours, have historically been the special preserve of kings and emperors, not democratically-elected and democratically-accountable presidents

A prolonged strike by teachers and health workers is not a realistic proposition – and everybody knows it

A prolonged strike by teachers and health workers is not a realistic proposition – and everybody knows it

The real wonder is not that voter turnout is so low for local government elections, but that it remains so high

The real wonder is not that voter turnout is so low for local government elections, but that it remains so high

Some nations are congratulated for embracing the ideas needed to overcome adversity, others are damned for succumbing to ideologies that only make things worse

Some nations are congratulated for embracing the ideas needed to overcome adversity, others are damned for succumbing to ideologies that only make things worse

A day will come when recognising Palestine makes diplomatic sense. But it is not today

A day will come when recognising Palestine makes diplomatic sense. But it is not today

The Māori seats are not, by definition, for everyone

The Māori seats are not, by definition, for everyone

What happens when social cohesion unravels?

What happens when social cohesion unravels?

Most people think 'centrist' means 'moderate', but it ain’t necessarily so

Most people think 'centrist' means 'moderate', but it ain’t necessarily so

The Coalition Government is aware of the electorate’s needs – why won’t it meet them?

The Coalition Government is aware of the electorate’s needs – why won’t it meet them?

If the election was scheduled for next week, Hipkins could win. Luckily for Luxon, it’s next year

If the election was scheduled for next week, Hipkins could win. Luckily for Luxon, it’s next year

In the face of the Covid threat, we were New Zealanders before we were anything else. National’s response would have been the same as Labour’s

In the face of the Covid threat, we were New Zealanders before we were anything else. National’s response would have been the same as Labour’s

Raising taxes will be a hard-sell for Chris Hipkins if all the additional revenue is pledged to funding pay equity

Raising taxes will be a hard-sell for Chris Hipkins if all the additional revenue is pledged to funding pay equity

If Chris Bishop steers National to victory in 2026, only one reward makes any sense

If Chris Bishop steers National to victory in 2026, only one reward makes any sense

Not all children are nice. Not all of the insights of young people are wholesome

Not all children are nice. Not all of the insights of young people are wholesome

Over the next 15 months, the clear strategic imperative for all three Coalition partners is break-out. Each must seize as much of the Right’s ideological territory as possible for themselves

Over the next 15 months, the clear strategic imperative for all three Coalition partners is break-out. Each must seize as much of the Right’s ideological territory as possible for themselves

Conservative New Zealand is still waiting for the Coalition to keep its promises – and NZ First’s surging poll numbers may be registering their impatience

Conservative New Zealand is still waiting for the Coalition to keep its promises – and NZ First’s surging poll numbers may be registering their impatience

Until Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori understand that the battle for law and order is waged in every human heart, and that if it is lost there, then it will be lost everywhere, they will never be returned to, or reconciled with, power

Until Labour, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori understand that the battle for law and order is waged in every human heart, and that if it is lost there, then it will be lost everywhere, they will never be returned to, or reconciled with, power

Race and class, eh? Can’t win with ‘em, can’t win without ‘em. Order your popcorn now

Race and class, eh? Can’t win with ‘em, can’t win without ‘em. Order your popcorn now

One of the great pitfalls of political nostalgia is that the protagonists of the present can all too easily be mistaken for the antagonists of the past

One of the great pitfalls of political nostalgia is that the protagonists of the present can all too easily be mistaken for the antagonists of the past

A National-led government that can no longer claim, with any credibility, to represent the nation, is a National-led Government on the ropes

A National-led government that can no longer claim, with any credibility, to represent the nation, is a National-led Government on the ropes

History’s judgement of the manner in which the Coalition Government’s majority expressed its racially-charged hostility towards Te Pāti Māori is unlikely to be kind, says Chris Trotter

History’s judgement of the manner in which the Coalition Government’s majority expressed its racially-charged hostility towards Te Pāti Māori is unlikely to be kind, says Chris Trotter

Labour’s first and most urgent mission is to knock Te Pāti Māori out of the race, says Chris Trotter

Labour’s first and most urgent mission is to knock Te Pāti Māori out of the race, says Chris Trotter

Inevitably, Nicola Willis’ budget played favourites – rewarding the Right’s friends at the expense of the Left’s electoral supporters

Inevitably, Nicola Willis’ budget played favourites – rewarding the Right’s friends at the expense of the Left’s electoral supporters

Chris Trotter says a political party caught speaking out of both sides on its mouth on key issues will soon find itself in big trouble

Chris Trotter says a political party caught speaking out of both sides on its mouth on key issues will soon find itself in big trouble