Killing the cult of consumerism

By Kieran Madden

“Our Gross National Product…measures everything, except that which makes life worthwhile.” Bobby Kennedy’s famous 1968 speech decried how measures like…

The process of voting on our voting process

By Danielle van Dalen

Last week, Justice Minister Andrew Little flagged the possibility of having an MMP referendum at the 2020 election to reconsider…

The little things that can change us

By Alex Penk

Last weekend, my daughter was shrieking in my ear with a mixture of delight and fear as we skimmed across…

On Common Ground

By Kieran Madden

Illustrations by Anieszka Banks “I could have hit him, I could have hurt him…but something in me said, you know…

Learning Support funding should bridge to work

By Danielle van Dalen

School can be difficult for everyone, but for students with disabilities the difficulties are generally heightened. The Prime Minister acknowledged…

The Politics of Diving

By Kieran Madden

Soccer goalkeepers sure look spectacular with their acrobatic dives during penalties, but studies show that simply standing in the middle…

Two-and-a-half cheers for child poverty bill

By Alex Penk

I was born at the tail-end of Gen X, so I grew up with a pop culture saturated by “fear…

Shaking off stardust politics

By Kieran Madden

Famously elusive about her political leanings, pop sensation Taylor Swift recently went beyond her usual neutral get-out-and-vote message to endorse…

Better the ballot box we know

By Danielle van Dalen

When online banking was first introduced, my Dad was sceptical. He worried there would be problems with security, access, and…

Flint & Steel Volume 05 | Magazine Launch

By Maxim Institute

“…IN THE BONDS OF LOVE WE MEET.” It’s a phrase most of us have sung with varying degrees of passion,…

Convenience culture needs to die

By Guest Author

About two years ago, I made the decision to refuse takeaway coffee cups. As part of reducing the unnecessary waste…

2019 Sir John Graham Lecture | Save the Date

OUR 2019 LECTURE DELIVERED BY: Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela Stellenbosch University Friday, 5 July | Pullman Hotel Auckland     Currently…

The collision of research and real life

By Alex Penk

I’ve never been to Maraenui, but I’ve now had a pretty eye-opening introduction to the Napier suburb. The devastation caused…

Losing All Blacks nothing to fear

By Julian Wood

In a surprise move, a group of the top 1 percent of male New Zealand income earners are appealing for…

Mana in Mahi isn’t your average work-for-the-dole scheme

By Kieran Madden

Translated to “strength in work,” Labour’s Mana in Mahi scheme shows real potential to make a difference in the lives…

Don’t leave law to the lawyers

By Alex Penk

One day, a man called John Entick was at home when in walked Nathan Carrington and three other government agents….

Sabotaging the lifts in New Zealand’s tower of wealth

By Julian Wood

If you haven’t seen the 2018 Side Eye Inequality Tower by Toby Morris and Max Rashbrooke, it’s well worth a…

Generational perspective necessary to do policy well

By Kieran Madden

Our view of human nature makes a big difference on which policies we devise and support. “If men were angels,…

Getting serious about loneliness

By Danielle van Dalen

As Ricky Martin and Christina Aguilera sang: “Nobody wants to be lonely.” But loneliness is more than just missing spending…

TOP goes for a walk

By Alex Penk

Gareth Morgan has a point. I know this may be an unpopular view, but hear me out. Last week Morgan…