For all my now-rather-long adult life, there has been a largely unquestioned assumption that the best way for New Zealand to get along in the world is to be an ally of the United States.   And an ally we’ve been since at least December 1941 when, after being attacked by Japan at Pearl Harbour, the United States entered the Second World War.   New Zealand was a formal treaty ally of the US from 1951 when the Australia, New Zealand and United States Security Treaty (ANZUS) was signed.   The...

In the last few days, plenty of people have mocked the Prime Minister for his apparent inability to answer simple questions about New Zealand’s attitude to the attacks on Iran by two countries with which we have a very friendly relationship, the United States and Israel.    By chance, I heard him struggle with the simple question which Corin Dann put to him on RNZ on Monday morning this week.  I found myself feeling sorry for him because the current situation highlights the dilemma we face in...

The following is written in Don's capacity as trustee for Hobson's Pledge: It is almost the end of 2025 and, as you may know, the Government has recently introduced to Parliament the two Bills it seeks to replace the Resource Management Act  (RMA) with. The Bills were pushed through first reading under urgency and have been referred to the Environment Select Committee. We will shortly be able to make submissions. We have already looked at the Bills and sought some initial legal advice. As you...