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

It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians, not to prosecute them, writes Chris Trotter. Winston Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed

It is the news media’s job to elicit information from politicians, not to prosecute them, writes Chris Trotter. Winston Peters’ promise to sort out TVNZ should be believed

Those whose salary depends upon them coming to terms with the fact that the beliefs of the paymasters have changed tend to get with the programme pretty smartly, writes Chris Trotter

Those whose salary depends upon them coming to terms with the fact that the beliefs of the paymasters have changed tend to get with the programme pretty smartly, writes Chris Trotter

Rory Stewart’s memoir “Politics on the Edge”, lays bare the dangerous inadequacies of the Western world’s current political model, writes Chris Trotter

Rory Stewart’s memoir “Politics on the Edge”, lays bare the dangerous inadequacies of the Western world’s current political model, writes Chris Trotter

Chris Trotter sys the departure of five Act candidates has the potential to rein in the party's projected success on October 14

Chris Trotter sys the departure of five Act candidates has the potential to rein in the party's projected success on October 14

Chris Trotter mulls whether New Zealand's heading into a change, restoration, or status quo election

Chris Trotter mulls whether New Zealand's heading into a change, restoration, or status quo election

Chris Trotter gives his assessment of PM & Labour leader Chris Hipkins' weekend speech on which political parties he will & won't work with

Chris Trotter gives his assessment of PM & Labour leader Chris Hipkins' weekend speech on which political parties he will & won't work with

The practice of New Zealand politics, and the reporting of it, has changed, and the voters have noticed, writes Chris Trotter

The practice of New Zealand politics, and the reporting of it, has changed, and the voters have noticed, writes Chris Trotter

NZ First’s participation in government is defined not so much by what it does, but by what it prevents its coalition partners from doing, Chris Trotter says

NZ First’s participation in government is defined not so much by what it does, but by what it prevents its coalition partners from doing, Chris Trotter says