Jeremy Vargo
About Jeremy Vargo
Communications Manager
Heading up Maxim Institute’s communications, Jeremy enjoys connecting our work with a wide range of audiences, from media, to MPs, to members of the public. Alongside a Bachelor of Commerce from University of Canterbury, he brings a passion for politics, and years of experience in communications and community work.
Most Recent Activity
Make the change, don’t keep the change
By Jeremy Vargo
Quick question. If a checkout operator gives you too much money back in change, do you tell them and give…
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Does punishment prevent crime?
By Jeremy Vargo
Benjamin Franklin once wrote to a friend that “in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and…
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Labour’s courageous move on poverty
By Jeremy Vargo
Labour’s announcement last week of the Child Poverty Reduction Bill was almost instantly hailed by many as a huge step…
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What are you reading?
By Jeremy Vargo
As we approach the election season, I’ve noticed a distinct uptick in the number of messages I’m seeing from the…
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What’s dragging beneath Gareth Morgan’s new TOP sail?
By Jeremy Vargo
The story of last week was of course, John Key, and the end of his incredible run of political popularity….
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Life consistent with our identity
By Jeremy Vargo
I love a good public disagreement; lately there seems to be a perishing lack of the good kind. To me…
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Connecting communities with help
By Jeremy Vargo
Last week I had a fascinating conversation. I was talking with Lisa Woolley in her office at VisionWest: a large…
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Assisted dying rejected again
By Jeremy Vargo
This past Friday the UK’s House of Commons rejected a bill that would legalise assisted suicide; with 330 MP’s voting…
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Culture, not “choice”
By Jeremy Vargo
Today, across Western Australia there are 274 small communities in fear of losing power, water, and other essential services needed…
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On our behalf
By Jeremy Vargo
I sense a simple joy lightening the national mood. Since the Government’s u-turn on their previous u-turn—essentially promising they wouldn’t…
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Doing good and making money
By Jeremy Vargo
Earlier this year I had the pleasure of meeting a fascinating New Zealander by the name of Travis O’Keefe. I…
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Imagery vs. injury
By Jeremy Vargo
I spent this past weekend on a campsite outside Rotorua enjoying delicious food, sunshine, beautiful landscapes and great conversations. Best…
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Shading between the lines
By Jeremy Vargo
A fascinating video popped up last week. It showed actor and director Ben Affleck on a TV talk show, not discussing his…
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Choose, and choose wisely
By Jeremy Vargo
When I was 10 years old, I volunteered to distribute pamphlets for one of the electorate candidates in our area….
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What’s wrong with binding referendums?
By Jeremy Vargo
In July, Colin Craig stated that the introduction of binding citizen’s initiated referendums (BCIR) would be a bottom line for…
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What I didn’t know about ISIS and Iraq
By Jeremy Vargo
You’re probably aware that something is going on in Iraq. You might have heard things about something called ISIS, read…
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MMP refresher – the paths to power
By Jeremy Vargo
Last week, my friends got into a heated discussion regarding David Cunliffe’s statements about Internet Mana. Mr Cunliffe said he…
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“Coat-tailing” and other political oddities
By Jeremy Vargo
What is the deal with “coat-tailing” and all those other little idiosyncrasies of our nation’s MMP system we hear bandied…
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When research becomes news
By Jeremy Vargo
I don’t know about you, but last week my Facebook newsfeed was flooded with posts about a new study that…
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The story beyond Budget Day
By Jeremy Vargo
The news cycle for a new Budget is really quite short. The day it’s announced it’s all go, every news…
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