Category: imported_weekly

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Drunkenness is no excuse

If New Zealanders continue to believe that alcohol causes people to behave badly, we should expect undesirable conduct in and around drinking venues. The script needs to be changed from excusing such conduct to, “You are in control of your behaviour at all times. Drunkenness is no excuse.”


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Law Making Pitfalls

One of the roles of the New Zealand Centre for Political Research public policy think tank is to keep an eye on the government’s legislative agenda and to remind readers of their opportunity to contribute to the law-making process.


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Irony in Northland By-election Result

The Northland by-election is a significant win for Winston Peters. In the short-term it takes away from National the luxury of being able to pass legislation without having to kowtow to Peter Dunne and the Maori Party.


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Public say NO to Maori seats on Council

The result of the Far North District Council’s referendum on the establishment Maori seats was released last week. Voters in Northland have said a resounding “No” to Maori seats on their local council, by a two to one margin.


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Managing Risk

Major external risks faced by nations include warfare, global pandemics and international economic collapse - all events we have witnessed over the last few years. But sometimes, serious threats come from within.


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Inherent Failings of Bureaucracy

If the costs of major public projects are being routinely underestimated and the benefits over-stated by those promoting such projects, then the role of providing a realistic a cost-benefit analysis should become the responsibility of an independent agency like the Auditor General.


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Concerns over Amnesty

Instead of solely raising awareness of prisoners’ rights in dictatorial regimes, Amnesty International now campaigns on such populist issues as globalisation, capitalism, poverty, and gay rights.


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The Islamic State

On Monday Cabinet authorised a New Zealand deployment to Iraq to assist in the fight against the Islamic State. Around 140 personnel are being sent at the request of the Iraqi Government and will take on a training role with their army.


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An Amalgamation Agenda

Noosa residents were deeply unhappy about the forced amalgamation and the removal of local democracy. They vowed to fight back, and in the lead up to the State Government elections in 2012, they, along with three other Queensland communities, won the right to de-amalgamate.


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Reflecting On Our Past and Future

Nowadays New Zealand is a nation of peoples from all over the globe. The commonality between us all is that we call New Zealand our home. We like to think we are a nation of equals - but there are many who seek to divide us by race.