About
Chris Trotter
Latest articles
Parliament does not exist for the purposes of making gestures, it exists for the purposes of making laws
17
Parliament does not exist for the purposes of making gestures, it exists for the purposes of making laws
Who is willing to argue that the business of politics should not be the politics of business?
If the Israelis and Americans are demanding regime change in Iran, then New Zealand needs to ask: 'What sort of regime change?'
36
If the Israelis and Americans are demanding regime change in Iran, then New Zealand needs to ask: 'What sort of regime change?'
Radical statism built New Zealand, and only radical statism can restore it, Chris Trotter argues
Can New Zealanders design something better than a system in which the people who came here second always win, and the people who were here first always lose?
8
Can New Zealanders design something better than a system in which the people who came here second always win, and the people who were here first always lose?
Chris Trotter says there are 'heaps' of lessons New Zealanders can learn from what is unfolding in the United Kingdom
10
Chris Trotter says there are 'heaps' of lessons New Zealanders can learn from what is unfolding in the United Kingdom
Antipodean politicians will either construct a post-neoliberal future or see their own futures sliding away
51
Antipodean politicians will either construct a post-neoliberal future or see their own futures sliding away
While Te Pāti Māori and the Greens are seen as Labour’s only available coalition partners, Chris Trotter says it has no winning moves
38
While Te Pāti Māori and the Greens are seen as Labour’s only available coalition partners, Chris Trotter says it has no winning moves
Anna Breman’s call was the right one. The America which Winston Peters seems so determined to placate is fast becoming a nation undeserving of New Zealanders’ allegiance
16
Anna Breman’s call was the right one. The America which Winston Peters seems so determined to placate is fast becoming a nation undeserving of New Zealanders’ allegiance
Chris Trotter asks, if ever there was a need for heavy-handed regulation, then surely, isn't it in relation to people’s confidential health information?
12
Chris Trotter asks, if ever there was a need for heavy-handed regulation, then surely, isn't it in relation to people’s confidential health information?
Chris Trotter puts the Trump Venezuelan adventure into historical perspective, finding unsettling parallels to the throwback populism and stark racism of the early 20th century
39
Chris Trotter puts the Trump Venezuelan adventure into historical perspective, finding unsettling parallels to the throwback populism and stark racism of the early 20th century
Chris Trotter notes that power is other people. What they can do for you. What you can do for them
7
Chris Trotter notes that power is other people. What they can do for you. What you can do for them
If not by the people, then in the people’s name. Chris Trotter spells out how Christopher Luxon and his coalition can win in 2026
10
If not by the people, then in the people’s name. Chris Trotter spells out how Christopher Luxon and his coalition can win in 2026
Be warned New Zealand: An America made great again will have no need of allies – only vassals
Are those the ghostly chuckles of Robert Muldoon echoing down the parliamentary corridors?
If she is serious about balancing the books, and restoring Pay Equity, Labour’s finance spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds, cannot avoid imposing austerity on her party’s own voters
61
If she is serious about balancing the books, and restoring Pay Equity, Labour’s finance spokesperson, Barbara Edmonds, cannot avoid imposing austerity on her party’s own voters
Winston Peters plans to set off a landslide of disillusioned Labour voters by deploying the explosive force of democratic expectations
18
Winston Peters plans to set off a landslide of disillusioned Labour voters by deploying the explosive force of democratic expectations
If the Opportunity Party wants to enter Parliament, then it will need policies that make the voters say: 'Wow! That’s a bloody good idea!'
14
If the Opportunity Party wants to enter Parliament, then it will need policies that make the voters say: 'Wow! That’s a bloody good idea!'
Prince Andrew should have listened to his mother. More to the point, the Queen should have made him listen
10
Prince Andrew should have listened to his mother. More to the point, the Queen should have made him listen
Turning Te Pāti Māori towards the urban Māori working-class would be an exceedingly dangerous move
7
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
13
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
4
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
13
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
19
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