Chris Trotter

Chris Trotter ponders whether Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party has found the same electoral sweet-spot that kept John Key’s National Party in the mid-to-high 40s for the best part of a decade

Chris Trotter ponders whether Jacinda Ardern's Labour Party has found the same electoral sweet-spot that kept John Key’s National Party in the mid-to-high 40s for the best part of a decade

Could former Trump strategist Steve Bannon’s radical right-wing doctrine of 'Traditionalism' offer conservative New Zealand a way out of its deep political funk?

Could former Trump strategist Steve Bannon’s radical right-wing doctrine of 'Traditionalism' offer conservative New Zealand a way out of its deep political funk?

It is, quite simply, wrong to insist that the tragic events of 15 March 2019 belong to anything, or anyone, but History itself, Chris Trotter argues

It is, quite simply, wrong to insist that the tragic events of 15 March 2019 belong to anything, or anyone, but History itself, Chris Trotter argues

Given the events of the week just past, National’s Paul Goldsmith’s unfortunate remarks concerning colonisation could be considered the least of its worries, say Chris Trotter

Given the events of the week just past, National’s Paul Goldsmith’s unfortunate remarks concerning colonisation could be considered the least of its worries, say Chris Trotter

Is New Zealand at risk of becoming a nation of 'Stepford Citizens': people who smile politely, nod encouragingly, and recite word-perfectly the bi-cultural and multi-cultural slogans of their masters?

Is New Zealand at risk of becoming a nation of 'Stepford Citizens': people who smile politely, nod encouragingly, and recite word-perfectly the bi-cultural and multi-cultural slogans of their masters?

The only real question, after Thursday’s Budget, is: How long will it take National to realise how profoundly the political game has been – and is being – transformed by Covid and Climate Change? Socialism is no longer a dirty word

The only real question, after Thursday’s Budget, is: How long will it take National to realise how profoundly the political game has been – and is being – transformed by Covid and Climate Change? Socialism is no longer a dirty word

A state broadcaster rigorously excluding any and all voices dissenting from the official line, is something most New Zealanders would expect to encounter in Moscow or Beijing – not in Wellington

A state broadcaster rigorously excluding any and all voices dissenting from the official line, is something most New Zealanders would expect to encounter in Moscow or Beijing – not in Wellington

Chris Trotter argues that Labour has thrown out the old Political Rule Book, and that the new game they’re playing is no longer called 'Democracy' but 'Holding On To Power At All Costs'

Chris Trotter argues that Labour has thrown out the old Political Rule Book, and that the new game they’re playing is no longer called 'Democracy' but 'Holding On To Power At All Costs'

Chris Trotter probes worrying signs that New Zealand’s long democratic history has produced a sense of complacency among its citizens

Chris Trotter probes worrying signs that New Zealand’s long democratic history has produced a sense of complacency among its citizens

Chris Trotter takes a look at our relationship with Anzac Day and wonders whether it could be caught up by changes in the teaching of New Zealand history

Chris Trotter takes a look at our relationship with Anzac Day and wonders whether it could be caught up by changes in the teaching of New Zealand history

Chris Trotter asks whether the Government’s proposed 'cure for hate speech is worse than the complaint

Chris Trotter asks whether the Government’s proposed 'cure for hate speech is worse than the complaint

Will Labour stand behind the revolutionary proposals contained in He Puapua – the 20-year plan to realise the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Aotearoa/New Zealand?

Will Labour stand behind the revolutionary proposals contained in He Puapua – the 20-year plan to realise the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Aotearoa/New Zealand?

Chris Trotter says equal opportunity misfortunes, experiences related much more closely to one’s location in the socio-economic power structure, may be more important than race in determining a life's economic success

Chris Trotter says equal opportunity misfortunes, experiences related much more closely to one’s location in the socio-economic power structure, may be more important than race in determining a life's economic success

Chris Trotter probes the orthodox New Zealand Initiative's stinging attack on what it clearly regards as the Labour Government’s economic and political heresy

Chris Trotter probes the orthodox New Zealand Initiative's stinging attack on what it clearly regards as the Labour Government’s economic and political heresy

Rumours of a prime-ministerial resignation may be intended to head-off something considerably more dramatic on the policy front, Chris Trotter suggests

Rumours of a prime-ministerial resignation may be intended to head-off something considerably more dramatic on the policy front, Chris Trotter suggests

Chris Trotter argues that the National Party’s political survival in the twenty-first century may depend upon its willingness to not only adopt Labour’s policies – but anticipate them

Chris Trotter argues that the National Party’s political survival in the twenty-first century may depend upon its willingness to not only adopt Labour’s policies – but anticipate them

Whether it be defeating the fascist disease, or eliminating the Coronavirus, history teaches us that not all capitalists are bad, Chris Trotter says

Whether it be defeating the fascist disease, or eliminating the Coronavirus, history teaches us that not all capitalists are bad, Chris Trotter says

To beat Covid-19, European New Zealanders need to stop taking for granted essential services provided by crowded migrant communities who reside, out of sight and out of mind, south of the Auckland Isthmus, between the Tamaki River & Manukau Harbour

To beat Covid-19, European New Zealanders need to stop taking for granted essential services provided by crowded migrant communities who reside, out of sight and out of mind, south of the Auckland Isthmus, between the Tamaki River & Manukau Harbour

French politicians’ reaction to the terrorist atrocities committed on their own soil targets the very same philosophical currents excited and emboldened by New Zealand’s own terrifying tragedy

French politicians’ reaction to the terrorist atrocities committed on their own soil targets the very same philosophical currents excited and emboldened by New Zealand’s own terrifying tragedy

Those wondering why our Prime Minister was so willing to countenance breaking the Air New Zealand-Saudi contract should wonder no longer. Jacinda Ardern has sniffed the wind and smelled Joe Biden’s aftershave

Those wondering why our Prime Minister was so willing to countenance breaking the Air New Zealand-Saudi contract should wonder no longer. Jacinda Ardern has sniffed the wind and smelled Joe Biden’s aftershave

Chris Trotter says MediaWorks’ decision to take Sean Plunket off the air raises some very disturbing questions about New Zealand’s political diversity

Chris Trotter says MediaWorks’ decision to take Sean Plunket off the air raises some very disturbing questions about New Zealand’s political diversity

Climate Change Commissioner, Rod Carr’s advice to Jacinda Ardern’s Government is uncompromising. The measure of our success at coping with global warming will be determined by how profoundly New Zealanders are willing to change their way of life

Climate Change Commissioner, Rod Carr’s advice to Jacinda Ardern’s Government is uncompromising. The measure of our success at coping with global warming will be determined by how profoundly New Zealanders are willing to change their way of life

A recent opinion piece by the Herald’s John Roughan raises the question of how far society should go to bring right-wing extremists back into the fold of political acceptance. Chris Trotter offers an answer

A recent opinion piece by the Herald’s John Roughan raises the question of how far society should go to bring right-wing extremists back into the fold of political acceptance. Chris Trotter offers an answer

Chris Trotter says as anybody with the intestinal fortitude to brave the commentary threads of local news-sites, large and small, will attest: the number of Trump-supporting New Zealanders is really quite astounding

Chris Trotter says as anybody with the intestinal fortitude to brave the commentary threads of local news-sites, large and small, will attest: the number of Trump-supporting New Zealanders is really quite astounding

Chris Trotter says the extraordinary images captured in and around the US Capitol Building mirror the worst images of America’s past

Chris Trotter says the extraordinary images captured in and around the US Capitol Building mirror the worst images of America’s past