About
Chris Trotter
Latest articles
With Auckland Central apparently set to tumble back into Labour’s arms, Chris Trotter asks whether the Greens can reach the 5% MMP threshold
21st Sep 20, 7:22am
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With Auckland Central apparently set to tumble back into Labour’s arms, Chris Trotter asks whether the Greens can reach the 5% MMP threshold
Chris Trotter argues most New Zealand politicians would rather appease a minority than unleash the majority
14th Sep 20, 9:28am
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Chris Trotter argues most New Zealand politicians would rather appease a minority than unleash the majority
Chris Trotter suggests New Zealand's costly elimination strategy for dealing with Covid-19 might paradoxically end up paying for itself
7th Sep 20, 7:30am
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Chris Trotter suggests New Zealand's costly elimination strategy for dealing with Covid-19 might paradoxically end up paying for itself
Chris Trotter says once in government the distance between party leaders and party supporters can widen dangerously as demonstrated by Greens co-leader James Shaw
31st Aug 20, 7:36am
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Chris Trotter says once in government the distance between party leaders and party supporters can widen dangerously as demonstrated by Greens co-leader James Shaw
Chris Trotter ponders what the political future may hold for National's Shane Reti beyond the October 17 election
24th Aug 20, 7:59am
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Chris Trotter ponders what the political future may hold for National's Shane Reti beyond the October 17 election
The electorate’s love for the Ardern-led government seems undiminished in Covid’s second time around, Chris Trotter says
17th Aug 20, 8:00am
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The electorate’s love for the Ardern-led government seems undiminished in Covid’s second time around, Chris Trotter says
Chris Trotter takes a look at the lack of policy on offer from the two main political parties as the September 19 election rapidly approaches
7th Aug 20, 9:21am
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Chris Trotter takes a look at the lack of policy on offer from the two main political parties as the September 19 election rapidly approaches
Chris Trotter argues Richard Prebble made Act competitive electorally by turning it into a right-wing populist party, and asks whether David Seymour is doing the same
3rd Aug 20, 8:31am
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Chris Trotter argues Richard Prebble made Act competitive electorally by turning it into a right-wing populist party, and asks whether David Seymour is doing the same
Chris Trotter considers whether if all news is political, then all news is also, in the eyes of its intended victims, at least, 'fake'
27th Jul 20, 9:21am
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Chris Trotter considers whether if all news is political, then all news is also, in the eyes of its intended victims, at least, 'fake'
Chris Trotter looks at Winston Peters' handbrake pitch as the NZ First leader presents himself as the indispensable 'Wise Counsellor' to either 'Queen'
20th Jul 20, 8:00am
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Chris Trotter looks at Winston Peters' handbrake pitch as the NZ First leader presents himself as the indispensable 'Wise Counsellor' to either 'Queen'
Chris Trotter says National's leader Todd Muller should emulate Donald Trump's 2015-16 strategy of running against his own party, telling National's voters he will 'drain the swamp' of the waters polluted by years of dirty politics
13th Jul 20, 8:51am
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Chris Trotter says National's leader Todd Muller should emulate Donald Trump's 2015-16 strategy of running against his own party, telling National's voters he will 'drain the swamp' of the waters polluted by years of dirty politics
Chris Trotter delves into the demands for a Covid-19 exit strategy and points to four fundamental operating principles to serve as a guide for 'Covexiters'
6th Jul 20, 8:00am
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Chris Trotter delves into the demands for a Covid-19 exit strategy and points to four fundamental operating principles to serve as a guide for 'Covexiters'
Chris Trotter argues the RNZ podcast series on the SIS during the Cold War makes a fortuitous and timely recharacterisation of our spooks against the backdrop of the modern threat from China
29th Jun 20, 10:30am
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Chris Trotter argues the RNZ podcast series on the SIS during the Cold War makes a fortuitous and timely recharacterisation of our spooks against the backdrop of the modern threat from China
Chris Trotter looks at what happens when 'light-handed regulation' turns out to mean 'no regulation at all'
22nd Jun 20, 9:44am
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Chris Trotter looks at what happens when 'light-handed regulation' turns out to mean 'no regulation at all'
Chris Trotter assesses National leader Todd Muller's weekend speech suggesting he has told Jacinda Ardern: 'I’ll see your kindness and raise you unconditional Christian love'
15th Jun 20, 10:02am
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Chris Trotter assesses National leader Todd Muller's weekend speech suggesting he has told Jacinda Ardern: 'I’ll see your kindness and raise you unconditional Christian love'
Chris Trotter argues the National Party has been reduced to angry incoherence and wonders what arguments it could offer that could slow Labour’s momentum
8th Jun 20, 8:30am
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Chris Trotter argues the National Party has been reduced to angry incoherence and wonders what arguments it could offer that could slow Labour’s momentum
Chris Trotter looks at the importance of the social disorder engulfing the United States from a New Zealand perspective
2nd Jun 20, 8:02am
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Chris Trotter looks at the importance of the social disorder engulfing the United States from a New Zealand perspective
Chris Trotter argues Todd Muller's backers have rejected the radical conservatism of the evangelical Christian Right and reaffirmed the moderate conservative values out of which their National Party was born
25th May 20, 7:57am
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Chris Trotter argues Todd Muller's backers have rejected the radical conservatism of the evangelical Christian Right and reaffirmed the moderate conservative values out of which their National Party was born
Chris Trotter muses on whether the Covid-19 crisis is ushering in a major shift in New Zealand foreign policy centring on a tilt away from Beijing and a cosying up to Washington
11th May 20, 8:52am
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Chris Trotter muses on whether the Covid-19 crisis is ushering in a major shift in New Zealand foreign policy centring on a tilt away from Beijing and a cosying up to Washington
Chris Trotter argues the version of West Germany's post-war economic miracle presented by the NZ Initiative's Oliver Hartwich was misleading, as it involved a more hands-on and less laissez faire government than he touted
27th Apr 20, 9:28am
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Chris Trotter argues the version of West Germany's post-war economic miracle presented by the NZ Initiative's Oliver Hartwich was misleading, as it involved a more hands-on and less laissez faire government than he touted
Chris Trotter looks to the 1930s for lessons on how to dig today's world out of a Covid-19 economic crisis and finds that supporting what works, rather than what was supposed to work, is the way to go
14th Apr 20, 8:00am
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Chris Trotter looks to the 1930s for lessons on how to dig today's world out of a Covid-19 economic crisis and finds that supporting what works, rather than what was supposed to work, is the way to go
Prompted by Don Brash, Chris Trotter mulls the question of when the Government’s meritorious quest to save as many New Zealanders from Covid-19 as possible runs up against the buffers of economic rationality
30th Mar 20, 8:52am
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Prompted by Don Brash, Chris Trotter mulls the question of when the Government’s meritorious quest to save as many New Zealanders from Covid-19 as possible runs up against the buffers of economic rationality
Chris Trotter argues if Jacinda Ardern is able to successfully lead New Zealand through the coronavirus pandemic the Labour Party might finally be able to shake-off the neoliberal monkey on its back
16th Mar 20, 10:03am
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Chris Trotter argues if Jacinda Ardern is able to successfully lead New Zealand through the coronavirus pandemic the Labour Party might finally be able to shake-off the neoliberal monkey on its back
Chris Trotter looks at the political machinations of the coronavirus crisis during an election year noting National's window to attack is narrow but Health Minister David Clark must step up
2nd Mar 20, 8:00am
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Chris Trotter looks at the political machinations of the coronavirus crisis during an election year noting National's window to attack is narrow but Health Minister David Clark must step up
Chris Trotter assesses the problems and options the Labour Party and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have with the SFO probing the NZ First Foundation
17th Feb 20, 8:17am
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Chris Trotter assesses the problems and options the Labour Party and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have with the SFO probing the NZ First Foundation