CoveragePost
July 4, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. This week New Zealand was officially pronounced the second most peaceful nation on earth – just behind Iceland – in the publication of the annual Global Peace Index. New Zealand’s high “peacefulness” score was based on the country’s low amount of violence, conflict and terrorism. However, New Zealand was marked down ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Massive new government defence spending reconfirmed without NZ First" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/07/04/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-massive-new-government-defence-spending-reconfirmed-without-nz-first/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Massive new government defence spending reconfirmed without NZ First">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 30, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. Whenever governments attempt to regulate political speech and activity, the results often end up being problematic and potentially harmful to democracy and debate. Regardless of how good the intentions, such reforms often bring complications, confusion, and unintended ill-effects. That means any laws around “hate speech” need to be extremely clear and ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The confusing and concerning hate speech reforms" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/30/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-the-confusing-and-concerning-hate-speech-reforms/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The confusing and concerning hate speech reforms">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 26, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. At the end of another tumultuous week for National, two former senior staffers for Judith Collins have spoken out in savage terms about the state of the party. First Matthew Hooton argued that the party could be in mortal decline: “National has been in intensive care. It’s now moving to the ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Does National’s turmoil mean the party is terminal?" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/26/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-does-nationals-turmoil-mean-the-party-is-terminal/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Does National’s turmoil mean the party is terminal?">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 25, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. Could a backlash to “woke politics” be the basis for the revival and return of New Zealand First? The Winston Peters-led party held its first post-defeat conference in the weekend, in which the main theme was NZ First’s very clear focus on culture wars issues as a way to rebuild popular ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Winston’s anti-woke path back to power" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/25/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-winstons-anti-woke-path-back-to-power/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Winston’s anti-woke path back to power">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 22, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. The last week has been full of debate over plans to make a film about the 2019 terrorist attacks on two Christchurch mosques. The vast majority of media coverage has focused on opposition to the film. These criticisms need to be taken seriously. But a strong case can be made in ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The case for and against the “They Are Us” film" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/22/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-the-case-for-and-against-the-they-are-us-film/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The case for and against the “They Are Us” film">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 15, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. Should anyone have trust in politicians, given the manner in which they solicit money from the wealthy? Probably not, since virtually every party in Parliament in recent times has been found to be involved in flaunting the law or accepting dodgy donations from the rich. News reports of questionable donations and ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Cash for access to politicians continues" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/15/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-cash-for-access-to-politicians-continues/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Cash for access to politicians continues">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 11, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. In promising to be New Zealand’s most open and transparent government ever, Labour has one key challenge: reform the Official Information Act. This vital piece of machinery for democracy is in terrible disrepair, and the Government has promised to rewrite it for the modern age, but so far are stalling on ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Reforming the Official Information Act is a democratic test for Labour" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/11/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-reforming-the-official-information-act-is-a-democratic-test-for-labour/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Reforming the Official Information Act is a democratic test for Labour">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 4, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. The National Party has a major problem with standards, especially amongst its MPs and election candidates. The latest controversies involve the resignation of their longest-serving MP Nick Smith over an employment dispute, and allegations of abhorrent behaviour by election candidate Jake Bezzant. The party has been beset by a series of ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The Low standards in the National Party" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/04/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-the-low-standards-in-the-national-party/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The Low standards in the National Party">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
June 2, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. The level of orchestration and political acting was turned up a notch this week in Queenstown by prime ministers Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison, who went to great pains to put on a highly contrived united front about their different orientations towards China. Clearly, both leaders were highly sensitive to the ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: NZ and Australia play “happy families” in Queenstown" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/06/02/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-nz-and-australia-play-happy-families-in-queenstown/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: NZ and Australia play “happy families” in Queenstown">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 31, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. Is New Zealand navigating the China-West, politics-trade relationship in a craven way? Increasingly that seems to be the view from overseas, and especially Australia. This critique was boiled down to its essence in last night’s Australian Channel 9 18-minute documentary, “Kiwis might fly”, which you can watch on Youtube here: Dollars VS ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Australia turns up the heat on NZ’s relationship with China" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/31/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-australia-turns-up-the-heat-on-nzs-relationship-with-china/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Australia turns up the heat on NZ’s relationship with China">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 29, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. Should we give more power to the politicians so that they can get things done? It’s an increasingly popular idea in New Zealand that we should hold elections every four years, rather than three, so Governments can implement more change. This week the Act Party gave the idea another push with ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The Growing momentum for four-yearly elections, and why it’s a mistake" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/29/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-the-growing-momentum-for-four-yearly-elections-and-why-its-a-mistake/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: The Growing momentum for four-yearly elections, and why it’s a mistake">Read more</a>
CoveragePost
May 27, 2021
Analysis by Bryce Edwards. One week on from last Thursday’s Budget, the “Benefit Boost” is still being discussed and dissected from all sides, but especially by the political left, which is celebrating, questioning, and endeavouring to work out how significant the move is. Today, for example, welfare economist Michael Fletcher has published his breakdown of ... <a title="Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Why Labour raised benefits, and why it’s not enough" class="read-more" href="https://eveningreport.nz/2021/05/27/bryce-edwards-political-roundup-why-labour-raised-benefits-and-why-its-not-enough/" aria-label="Read more about Bryce Edwards’ Political Roundup: Why Labour raised benefits, and why it’s not enough">Read more</a>
