Chris Trotter

An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure, writes Chris Trotter

An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure, writes Chris Trotter

Perhaps the most important lesson of Friday’s School Strike flop is that political consciousness cannot be assembled like so many Lego blocks, writes Chris Trotter

Perhaps the most important lesson of Friday’s School Strike flop is that political consciousness cannot be assembled like so many Lego blocks, writes Chris Trotter

It would seem that the realities of practical politics makes utilitarians of us all, writes Chris Trotter

It would seem that the realities of practical politics makes utilitarians of us all, writes Chris Trotter

Chris Trotter asks: If Jacinda Ardern’s government struggled to contain 3,000 angry Kiwis in 2022, how will Christopher Luxon’s cope with 300,000 in 2025?

Chris Trotter asks: If Jacinda Ardern’s government struggled to contain 3,000 angry Kiwis in 2022, how will Christopher Luxon’s cope with 300,000 in 2025?

False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential, writes Chris Trotter

False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential, writes Chris Trotter

To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it's necessary to return to the 'glory days' of Muldoonism, writes Chris Trotter

To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it's necessary to return to the 'glory days' of Muldoonism, writes Chris Trotter

Was it ever realistic to believe that two commercial television networks could settle into such a tiny market? – asks Chris Trotter

Was it ever realistic to believe that two commercial television networks could settle into such a tiny market? – asks Chris Trotter

The Nats do best when they take the 'national' part of their name seriously, writes Chris Trotter

The Nats do best when they take the 'national' part of their name seriously, writes Chris Trotter

Chris Trotter asks whether applying 'tough love' to a 'fragile' nation is the right answer

Chris Trotter asks whether applying 'tough love' to a 'fragile' nation is the right answer

Chris Trotter says you can’t just switch populism on and off like a lightbulb. Nor can you boast about ignoring the wishes of the “overwhelming majority” of the New Zealand people. Not if you want to remain the dominant right-wing party

Chris Trotter says you can’t just switch populism on and off like a lightbulb. Nor can you boast about ignoring the wishes of the “overwhelming majority” of the New Zealand people. Not if you want to remain the dominant right-wing party

In three years’ time, writes Chris Trotter, Chloe Swarbrick will either be a broken political doll – or New Zealand’s first Green prime minister

In three years’ time, writes Chris Trotter, Chloe Swarbrick will either be a broken political doll – or New Zealand’s first Green prime minister

The Left’s belief that intransigent minorities will not be electorally punished for spitting the face of the majority is truly bizarre, writes Chris Trotter

The Left’s belief that intransigent minorities will not be electorally punished for spitting the face of the majority is truly bizarre, writes Chris Trotter

Saturday's Hui was an impressive demonstration of the power of te iwi Māori, Chris Trotter says

Saturday's Hui was an impressive demonstration of the power of te iwi Māori, Chris Trotter says

Veteran leftist Robert Reid says New Zealand’s at war with Yemen. Chris Trotter begs to differ

Veteran leftist Robert Reid says New Zealand’s at war with Yemen. Chris Trotter begs to differ

There’s no point looking for red-hot chilli-peppers in a paddock planted with potatoes, writes Chris Trotter

There’s no point looking for red-hot chilli-peppers in a paddock planted with potatoes, writes Chris Trotter

Chris Trotter argues Labour leader Chris Hipkins benefited from having the mind & style of a bureaucrat, but also having the imagination of a bureaucrat was his downfall

Chris Trotter argues Labour leader Chris Hipkins benefited from having the mind & style of a bureaucrat, but also having the imagination of a bureaucrat was his downfall

If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them? – asks Chris Trotter

If those elected to the Māori Seats refuse to take them, then what possible reason could the country have for retaining them? – asks Chris Trotter

Chris Trotter says if Bill Rowling was run over by a bus, the contemporary Labour Party was run over by a million buses

Chris Trotter says if Bill Rowling was run over by a bus, the contemporary Labour Party was run over by a million buses

Chris Trotter looks at whether Christopher Luxon's corporate leadership style can cut it in politics

Chris Trotter looks at whether Christopher Luxon's corporate leadership style can cut it in politics

New Zealanders’ adherence to the values and processes of democracy is being put to the test, writes Chris Trotter

New Zealanders’ adherence to the values and processes of democracy is being put to the test, writes Chris Trotter

The first lesson Christopher Luxon will have to learn is that being Prime Minister is not at all the same as being CEO. Political power is always and everywhere a matter of negotiation, writes Chris Trotter

The first lesson Christopher Luxon will have to learn is that being Prime Minister is not at all the same as being CEO. Political power is always and everywhere a matter of negotiation, writes Chris Trotter

Blanding-out New Zealand’s vibrant multicultural society into a coffee-coloured uniformity, while a 'right-on!' notion in 1969, would strike most contemporary New Zealanders as a terrible idea, writes Chris Trotter

Blanding-out New Zealand’s vibrant multicultural society into a coffee-coloured uniformity, while a 'right-on!' notion in 1969, would strike most contemporary New Zealanders as a terrible idea, writes Chris Trotter

It’s as well that, all over the Western World, men are thinking about Rome, writes Chris Trotter. Because, make no mistake, all across the rest of the world, there is no shortage of young men thinking about the Barbarians

It’s as well that, all over the Western World, men are thinking about Rome, writes Chris Trotter. Because, make no mistake, all across the rest of the world, there is no shortage of young men thinking about the Barbarians

Chris Trotter assesses Labour's disastrous election result, noting when parties lose it’s because they have done things that cause even their supporters to vote for someone else, or stay at home

Chris Trotter assesses Labour's disastrous election result, noting when parties lose it’s because they have done things that cause even their supporters to vote for someone else, or stay at home

If you listen to the panicky Chris Bishop, writes Chris Trotter, that’s the voters’ choice: A clean two-party coalition, or a dirty three-way

If you listen to the panicky Chris Bishop, writes Chris Trotter, that’s the voters’ choice: A clean two-party coalition, or a dirty three-way