Politics & Society

Sustain: What does a new President mean for biodiversity in Guatemala?

Sustain: What does a new President mean for biodiversity in Guatemala?

Guatemala is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for land and environmental activists. Pauline Herbst speaks with Maya Q’eqchi’ community leader in education Fredy Oxom and anthropologist Callie Vandewiele to find out why a silent indigenous led protest is important for biodiversity.

read more
What do Russians really think of the war?

What do Russians really think of the war?

Anthropologist Mark Galeotti challenges four common misconceptions about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including that the Russian people approve of the war and their regime’s conduct, and that they have become more politically conservative. Rather, Russians remain focused on their daily material concerns and have become more politically apathetic.

read more
What would a Green Recovery from COVID-19 look like for Aotearoa New Zealand?

What would a Green Recovery from COVID-19 look like for Aotearoa New Zealand?

To arrest economic downturn, many governments have responded with massive fiscal packages to boost the economy, maintain employment, and stabilise core industries. However, there is deep concern that these economic responses will undermine the goals outlined in the Paris Climate Accords and cause a surge in greenhouse gas emissions.

read more
What if China wins?

What if China wins?

A winning China would regain what the Qing Dynasty enjoyed three centuries ago: a central geo-political leadership role among its periphery of tributary states.

read more
How does COP27’s loss and damage deal really look to the Global South?

How does COP27’s loss and damage deal really look to the Global South?

After two weeks of fractious discussions, at the very last minute COP27 came up with an agreement on ‘loss and damage’ – providing financial assistance to poorer nations who are already facing the catastrophic impacts of climate change. But how long will it take for these words to translate into actions?

read more
Why do social ties matter to climate politics?

Why do social ties matter to climate politics?

Policy-makers frequently fail to communicate scientific knowledge about climate change effectively, with the result that targeted groups often reject potentially useful advice. Our research addressed New Zealand dairy farmers’ perceptions of climate conditions and their perceptions of climate science.

read more
COP27: Breakthrough? Or an inadequate response to the climate crisis?

COP27: Breakthrough? Or an inadequate response to the climate crisis?

For 30 years, developing nations have fought to establish an international fund to pay for the “loss and damage” they suffer as a result of climate change. As the COP27 climate summit in Egypt wrapped up over the weekend, they finally succeeded. While it’s a historic moment, the agreement of loss and damage financing left many details yet to be sorted out. What’s more, many critics have lamented the overall outcome of COP27, saying it falls well short of a sufficient response to the climate crisis.

read more
What can be expected from COP27?

What can be expected from COP27?

The world’s leaders are gathering for another global climate meeting, this time in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Expect a bustle of promises and pacts from countries and companies. Expect pressure on states to support people who are most and permanently affected by climate change. Don’t expect much more, but equally don’t lay the blame solely on the United Nations.

read more
The fall into the abyss

The fall into the abyss

In April 1909, two waves of massacres shook the province of Adana, located in the southern Anatolia region of modern-day Turkey, killing more than 20,000 Armenians and 2,000 Muslims.

read more
Who are you calling a Nazi?

Who are you calling a Nazi?

While it is all too easy and comfortable to indulge in our Nazi fascination to demonise our enemies, maybe we should still the media chaos just for a moment and reflect. Who are you calling a Nazi? And why?

read more
Has Putin won in the Ukraine?

Has Putin won in the Ukraine?

The recognition by President Putin of the Donetsk and Luhansk ‘Peoples Republics’ on 21 February is his latest initiative to expand Russia’s influence. Will he prevail? Will he pause or push further?

read more
What does academic freedom mean in practice?

What does academic freedom mean in practice?

If the use of academic freedom did not create risk, parliament would not have needed to legislate for its protection. But that risk should not be shouldered by Wiles and Hendy, or anyone else, alone. 

read more
What is Havana syndrome?

What is Havana syndrome?

Robert Bartholomew takes apart the theory US and Canadian diplomats were the target of a mysterious new weapon in Cuba and lays out a much more likely explanation.

read more
Why is the war in Yemen escalating again? 🔊

Why is the war in Yemen escalating again? 🔊

The ongoing civil war in Yemen risks an escalation with drone strikes launched by the Houthi against the United Arab Emirates. This is apparently in retaliation against the increased military campaign against the Houthis led by the Saudis and the UAE.

read more
Why have protests erupted in Kazakhstan? 🔊

Why have protests erupted in Kazakhstan? 🔊

On January 2nd, protests erupted throughout the Central Asian nation of Kazakhstan. The proximate cause was a drastic increase in fuel prices and a popular discontent against the three-decade rule of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

read more
Surveillance: What is it good for?

Surveillance: What is it good for?

Online monitoring raises serious questions about privacy and rights, but where justified it can be used for good if organisations consider wider issues like transparency and fairness. 

read more
Will China be number one?

Will China be number one?

Will China be Number One, that is, the most powerful and influential state on earth, soon?  This Big Question has already been answered in the affirmative by some commentators…but not all. 

read more
How do rich politicians avoid paying tax?

How do rich politicians avoid paying tax?

IRS records reveal how Gov. Jim Justice, Gov. Jared Polis, former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and other wealthy political figures slashed their taxes using strategies unavailable to most of their constituents.

read more
Is it the end of the American century?

Is it the end of the American century?

By Stephen Hoadley This ‘evidence’ of US unreliability, weakness and failure is partial, out of context, and lacking in historical perspective. Fifty years ago, as I began my teaching career at the University of Auckland, the United States began withdrawing its forces...

read more
What is the current status of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? 🔊

What is the current status of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict? 🔊

One year ago this week, Azerbaijani forces attacked the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. This war redrew the maps of the area. It shifted the power and influence in this region away from Armenian’s who have declared the region independent, although, legally, it remains a part of Azerbaijan.

read more
What makes a terrorist? ▶

What makes a terrorist? ▶

From the power of love shown after the Christchurch terror attacks, to why you should use the story of The Three Billy Goats Gruff to teach children about terrorism, Professor Peter O’Connor explains the intricacies of terrorism like you’ve never heard before.

read more
Why are Yemenis being starved?

Why are Yemenis being starved?

Throughout Yemen’s brutal war, parties to the conflict have deprived civilians of the food and water they need to survive, starving them to death. 

read more
Is California’s democracy broken? 🔊

Is California’s democracy broken? 🔊

California is about to vote on whether to recall their governor and replace him with one of forty-six candidates. This process has uncovered a serious challenge for the governability of the state, and California now faces a governability crisis.

read more
Why did QAnon become so widespread? 🔊

Why did QAnon become so widespread? 🔊

Conspiracy theories have marked American politics throughout the nation’s history. The most recent popular conspiracy centres around a shadowy figure who posts online under the pseudonym Q.

read more
How should we remember the Korean War?

How should we remember the Korean War?

Stephen Hoadley cautions New Zealanders to take into account the security risks – and the economic opportunities – presented by the fragile inter-Korean armistice, and to be aware of the shifting power balances of the East Asian region.

read more
What is the future of the filibuster in U.S. politics? 🔊

What is the future of the filibuster in U.S. politics? 🔊

The U.S. Senate is a unique legislative body in that it often requires a supermajority of sixty votes in favour of a legislation for a bill to pass. This is due to an historic institution called the filibuster. But the filibuster is not exactly like we think.

read more
What is critical race theory? 🔊

What is critical race theory? 🔊

In the last six months, several U.S. states have barred the teaching of critical race theory in schools. Critics suggest this campaign is to eliminate discussions of race in classrooms, while others suggest that critical race theory is poorly understood.

read more
What’s happening in Haiti?

What’s happening in Haiti?

The 7 July assassination of the country’s president, Jovenel Moïse, has thrown the country into disarray. Here’s what you need to know.

read more
What is the future of Māori-Pakeha relations?

What is the future of Māori-Pakeha relations?

Instead of seeing Māori ways as an either/or with existing thinking about the world and its governance, Dame Anne Salmond argues it’s time to bring them together for new institutional forms of order for Aotearoa-New Zealand.

read more
Why is New Zealand’s literacy rate in decline?

Why is New Zealand’s literacy rate in decline?

From the rise of social media to dramatic change in the education system, many reasons are offered to explain New Zealand’s decline in international literacy assessments. Stuart McNaughton says a single cause is very unlikely.

read more
Is cyber security a people problem?

Is cyber security a people problem?

In an age where personal information is the new oil, chief privacy officers in companies should be as important as chief financial officers. Gehan Gunasekara explains the human dimension to cyber vulnerabilities – and how we can keep safe. 

read more
How bad was Māori segregation?

How bad was Māori segregation?

Robert Bartholomew says it’s time to educate about a dark chapter of Māori racial segregation. Because while history may not repeat, it speaks to the present.

read more
What is going on in Colombia? 🔊

What is going on in Colombia? 🔊

In April, Colombian demonstrators took to the streets to protest new policies proposed by the Government. The police responded with violence, with videos of the police response going viral. The response has subsequently led to larger protests against the Colombian Government.

read more
Free speech: Is it really under threat?

Free speech: Is it really under threat?

We can expect a lot of sound and fury as we start to debate the hate speech provisions that will be aired soon. But hopefully, we can also have an informed debate about the nature of hate, including what occurs online, and the impacts of this on communities, especially those which have been targeted by hate.

read more
What is the so-called deep state? 🔊

What is the so-called deep state? 🔊

While President, Donald Trump regularly complained that a deep state was undermining his policies and his decisions. He painted a picture of a conspiracy that unelected government officials were seeking to overthrow his Presidency.

read more
The first 100 days: How has Joe Biden done so far? 🔊

The first 100 days: How has Joe Biden done so far? 🔊

Presidents are often historically judged based on the accomplishments of their first 100 days in office. US President Joe Biden has just passed his 100-day mark. How does his record compare to historical records? How likely are President Biden’s proposals to be adopted?

read more
Are China-US Relations deteriorating?

Are China-US Relations deteriorating?

China and the US will not agree on many points of policy. But on one point they will tacitly agree: their ongoing strategic rivalry must be carefully managed to avoid war.   

read more
Can peace come to Yemen? 🔊

Can peace come to Yemen? 🔊

Since 2014, Yemen has been embroiled in an ongoing civil war. In the process, it has become the salient battleground for the ongoing rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran and has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian disaster by the UN.

read more
How will climate change affect infrastructure? 🔊

How will climate change affect infrastructure? 🔊

Flooding, drought, and rising sea levels are just some of the major climate events that are already affecting millions. One of the major issues, as a result, is how infrastructure in both urban and rural communities will be affected by climate change.

read more
What does the TPNW mean for the future of nuclear armament? 🔊

What does the TPNW mean for the future of nuclear armament? 🔊

On February 22, 2021, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force. However, the treaty’s purpose of a nuclear-weapons-free world has faced opposition from the states who have nuclear weapons stockpiles. What does this mean for the future of nuclear armament?

read more
What are the economics of happiness?

What are the economics of happiness?

New Zealand has its own world expert on the economics of happiness. Professor Robert MacCulloch says the pandemic is an opportunity to show how we could do a lot better.

read more
What is going on in Myanmar? 🔊

What is going on in Myanmar? 🔊

On February 1st, 2021, the Burmese military overthrew the democratically elected government in Myanmar. Long-time political dissident Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested along with the leadership of the ruling National League for Democracy.

read more
How significant was the Treaty of Waitangi Act?

How significant was the Treaty of Waitangi Act?

In a new edition of her popular book, The Treaty of Waitangi / Te Tiriti o Waitangi: An Illustrated History, distinguished historian Dame Claudia Orange brings the narrative of the Treaty up-to-date. In this extract, she explores the critical phase in the Treaty’s history that began with the passing of a significant piece of legislation.

read more
Climate change: Is New Zealand doing enough? 🔊

Climate change: Is New Zealand doing enough? 🔊

New Zealand has continued to garner criticism for inaction on climate change and was recently excluded from the Climate Ambition Summit. This raises the question of whether New Zealand’s climate policy reflects the urgency of the situation.

read more
How will Estonia reckon with the far-right?

How will Estonia reckon with the far-right?

As all eyes were glued to the storming of the American Capitol and the second impeachment of Donald Trump, the small Baltic nation of Estonia was experiencing its own reckoning with the far-right.

read more
Is Left populism possible?

Is Left populism possible?

“We need to fight precarity now and to ensure that, in the process, we retain and enhance the best of our representative institutions.”

read more
Can peace come to the Western Sahara? 🔊

Can peace come to the Western Sahara? 🔊

In November last year, a near three-decade-old ceasefire in the disputed region of Western Sahara was broken, and war resumed. This territory has been a tinderbox of conflict since Spain decolonised in 1975.

read more
What lies behind the war in Tigray?

What lies behind the war in Tigray?

“At the core of the current war between the Ethiopian central government and the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front is the realignment of politics and the contest for political hegemony.”

read more
The US Election 2020: A Crisis of legitimacy?

The US Election 2020: A Crisis of legitimacy?

Was the 2020 US election conducted properly? Will mail-in ballots be counted, and will that count be allowed to stand? Will, the US Supreme Court, decide the final outcome? And what, in any case, will become of American democracy?

read more
Has peace come to Nagorno-Karabakh? 🔊

Has peace come to Nagorno-Karabakh? 🔊

On September 27, 2020, fighting along the so-called line of control between Azerbaijan and the region of Nagorno-Karabakh broke out. Azerbaijani forces advanced throughout the month, and Armenian resistance struggled to hold territory. On November 10, the two sides agreed to a peace agreement that has been brokered by Russia.

read more
Can Trump be prosecuted?

Can Trump be prosecuted?

“President-elect Biden has rightly made bringing Americans together his highest priority. His greatest challenge will be whether he can lead the nation into a reckoning with the Trump years without further inflaming passions.”

read more
How did the US election look from outside America? 🔊

How did the US election look from outside America? 🔊

The US, when it holds an election ends up attracting more interest around the world than most, if not any other country. It might be because of American power; it might be because of the US’s democratic principles, or it might be because of media sources and the ability to follow it.

read more
What is the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh war about? 🔊

What is the ongoing Nagorno-Karabakh war about? 🔊

On September 27, fighting along the so-called line of control between Azerbaijan and the region of Nagorno-Karabakh erupted. This area of Azerbaijan is majority Armenian and has been de facto-controlled by the local Armenian population since the end of the war between the two populations in 1994. 

read more
Big Q Podcast: The 2020 New Zealand General Election 🔊

Big Q Podcast: The 2020 New Zealand General Election 🔊

In this special Big Q podcast, Sam Smith is joined by Lara Greaves, Mark Boyd, and Victoria Woodman to look at the 2020 New Zealand general election. They discuss how the two main parties are tracking, the state of the minor parties, and assess the overall election campaign so far.

read more
Does the Black Lives Matter movement reflect experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand?

Does the Black Lives Matter movement reflect experiences in Aotearoa New Zealand?

In the 1970s African American activism was echoed in New Zealand influencing the creation and activism of both Ngā Tamatoa and the Polynesian Panthers. 50 years later these trends continue with protests across New Zealand sparked by the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, and Black Lives Matter has become an issue of national political contention.

read more
Can you trust political polls?

Can you trust political polls?

From now until October 17, Election Day in New Zealand, voters will be getting election poll information from multiple directions. So which ones can be trusted?

read more
What is behind the political unrest in Belarus? 🔊

What is behind the political unrest in Belarus? 🔊

On August 9, 2020, Belarussian voters went to the polls in a presidential election. Long-time president Alexander Lukashenko who has governed the nation since 1994 and who is often called Europe’s last dictator claimed victory.

read more
A country in crisis: Where is Lebanon heading? 🔊

A country in crisis: Where is Lebanon heading? 🔊

Last week, on August 4th, an explosion devastated Beirut killing over one hundred people and injuring thousands. This incident shocked the nation amidst a horrible economic crisis and a tremendous lack of faith in the competence of the government.

read more
A city under siege: What are the legal and political implications of the presence of federal agents in Portland? 🔊

A city under siege: What are the legal and political implications of the presence of federal agents in Portland? 🔊

Ever since the killing of George Floyd, the city of Portland has witnessed consistent protests and civic action demanding police reforms. However, recently, camouflaged federal authorities without identification badges have begun arresting protesters in the city, while the Department of Homeland Security has deployed unmarked SUV’s to detain protesters.

read more
What dangers do low-yield nuclear weapons pose to the world?

What dangers do low-yield nuclear weapons pose to the world?

“With international treaties focused on regulating higher-yield nuclear weapons, the relatively lighter “tactical” armaments have quietly proliferated in their place, despite being far more destructive than either of the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.”

read more
Is the United States haunted by its racist past? 🔊

Is the United States haunted by its racist past? 🔊

In recent weeks, the news in the United States has been filled with stories of statues and public spaces being altered or removed. These stories are usually connected with America’s racist past, with a particular eye towards the issue of slavery.

read more
Can free speech cost lives?

Can free speech cost lives?

Despite all the debates and discussions, the pandemic continues to ravage humanity and the fake news phenomenon continues to deceive some people.

read more
Nobody expects the Spanish … Coronavirus?

Nobody expects the Spanish … Coronavirus?

“Spain was amongst the nations hardest hit by the pandemic and, despite the uneasiness surrounding Sánchez’s late response to the crisis, even by his hardline supporters, Spain is on its way to recovery.”

read more
Will COVID-19 transform world politics?

Will COVID-19 transform world politics?

Will the current COVID-19 outbreak stimulate further international cooperation as did the infections of the 20th Century, or will it undermine cooperation, weaken regimes and alter geopolitics as did the epidemics of the prior two millennia?

read more
A death in the family

A death in the family

“I saw my father alive, dead, and buried, the threefold process that’s at once so ordinary and so extraordinary, and tragically has become more ordinary in the UK in these extraordinary times.”

read more
Is Islamic State back?

Is Islamic State back?

In the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic the crises of tomorrow can fester. A resurgence of Islamic State (IS) is likely to be one of them.

read more
What is decolonisation?

What is decolonisation?

Many writers only loosely define what they mean by it, while others use it as a general black box for addressing the negative impacts of colonisation upon Indigenous peoples.  

read more
Why are pets at risk during this pandemic?

Why are pets at risk during this pandemic?

In a few short months the COVID-19 pandemic has precipitated a series of dramatic social, political and environmental changes. Yet the focus remains resolutely on humans, leaving animals largely out of the picture.

read more
How have faith communities responded to Covid-19?

How have faith communities responded to Covid-19?

In response to the global spread of Covid-19, many faith communities including churches, mosques, synagogues, temples and gurdwaras have suspended their meetings and services in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

read more
First in Family: Our University Voyages

First in Family: Our University Voyages

Awarding-winning filmmaker Professor Annie Goldson didn’t have to travel too far from her University of Auckland desk for her latest documentary production, with Dr ‘Ema Wolfgramm-Foliaki.

read more
What is behind the recent oil price crash?

What is behind the recent oil price crash?

Having agreed to restrict production in recent years, it appears that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Russian Federation have been racing to outdo the other in crashing the price of oil.

read more
Does far-right extremism still threaten New Zealand?

Does far-right extremism still threaten New Zealand?

“In the hours after the Christchurch mosque attacks on March 15 last year, I wrote that I hoped New Zealand would finally stop believing it was immune to far-right extremist violence. A year on, I’m not sure enough has changed.”

read more
Fossil fuel-free superannuation: What is the deal? 🔊

Fossil fuel-free superannuation: What is the deal? 🔊

Last week an announcement was made by the government surrounding changes to default KiwiSaver funds. In a bid to align with the zero-carbon bill, in 2021, when the terms of default KiwiSaver end, they will no longer be able to invest in fossil fuels or illegal weaponry.

read more
Why are New Zealand houses so damp and mouldy? 🔊

Why are New Zealand houses so damp and mouldy? 🔊

Is the housing stock to blame? Is it the way houses are constructed? Is it the typology? Lillian Hanley spoke with Philippa Howden-Chapman about the state of New Zealand’s houses, and what effect damp and mouldy homes have on people’s health and living standards.

read more
How legitimate is proxy warfare? 🔊

How legitimate is proxy warfare? 🔊

Global conflicts have become increasingly more complex, and often, external nations choose to intervene. However, interventions can often be indirect in the form of proxy actors.

read more
What is the future of food?

What is the future of food?

Gilbert Wong looks at the forces shaping the future of food and how research is contributing to what’s likely to be on our plates in 2030.

read more
Should prisoners be allowed to vote? 🔊

Should prisoners be allowed to vote? 🔊

A few days ago, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced plans to change the current law on prisoner voting rights in time for the 2020 election to allow prisoners serving sentences of three years or under to vote. 

read more
What institutional reform befits the era of the long climate crisis?

What institutional reform befits the era of the long climate crisis?

On October 22, former MP and Green Party co-leader Russel Norman, who now leads Greenpeace Aotearoa New Zealand, delivered the 2019 Bruce Jesson Memorial Lecture at the University of Auckland, looking at institutional reform options for dealing with climate change, in light of Parliament’s recent passage of the Zero Carbon Bill.

read more
Q+A: Could working with gangs help reduce crime?

Q+A: Could working with gangs help reduce crime?

New Zealand National Party leader Simon Bridges wants to stop gang members from gaining access to welfare if they cannot prove their income is from legitimate sources. This comes at a time when some gangs are wanting changes in their community.

read more
Are armed police patrols the solution to gun violence? 🔊

Are armed police patrols the solution to gun violence? 🔊

The debate around the trial of armed police patrols in New Zealand continues since it was announced three weeks ago. The patrols will be rolled out in Manukau, Waikato, and Canterbury and involve heavily armed, specially trained units roaming the streets in vehicles.

read more
Q+A: What does a Trumpian foreign policy look like?

Q+A: What does a Trumpian foreign policy look like?

On September 10, 2019, Donald Trump fired his national security advisor John Bolton, significantly changing the dynamic within the Trump Administration’s foreign policy team. So, what does the future of American foreign policy look like under the current president?

read more
Why do we need journalism?

Why do we need journalism?

Journalism is facing a profound financial crisis. Around the world, news outlets are closing, and journalists are losing their jobs. Should we be worried?

read more
Why isn’t my professor Pasifika or Māori?

Why isn’t my professor Pasifika or Māori?

The number of Māori and Pasifika students attending New Zealand universities has been increasing steadily, but for many of these students, they will not be taught by Māori or Pasifika throughout their degree.

read more
Q+A: How do we measure far-right violence?

Q+A: How do we measure far-right violence?

On the heels of mass shootings in New Zealand and the United States, we ask: what are the mindsets, trends, and changes of a globally connected right-wing movement? What are the solutions to the growing animosity between identity groups?

read more
Q+A: Boom or bust: What is the state of housing in New Zealand?

Q+A: Boom or bust: What is the state of housing in New Zealand?

New Zealand is enduring a housing crisis. The chance of buying a home is out of reach for many, while at the same time, rents remain high. Gautami Sithambaram spoke with Campbell Jones about the state of housing in New Zealand and what initiatives young people can take to get into the property market.

read more
Q+A: Will voting changes help bring more Kiwis to the ballot box?

Q+A: Will voting changes help bring more Kiwis to the ballot box?

Last month, the government announced proposals for how New Zealanders will go to the polls in 2020. The new legislation will allow voters to enrol on election day, make it easier for New Zealanders to vote from overseas, and could see ballots in public places like supermarkets and malls.

read more
Q+A: Banning the bomb: Are the days of nuclear weapons numbered?

Q+A: Banning the bomb: Are the days of nuclear weapons numbered?

In 2017, the United Nations General Assembly passed a mandate to negotiate a treaty that would ban nuclear weapons. While the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons passed 122 votes to 1, no nuclear state or NATO member other than the Netherlands voted on the resolution.

read more
Q+A: Is the age of privacy over?

Q+A: Is the age of privacy over?

Is the age of privacy over? What is at stake when we lose our privacy? How does a lack of privacy affect security, democracy, and society? Maria Armoudian speaks with Helen Nissenbaum, Michael Patrick Lynch, Bruce Schneier, and Joshua Fairfield. 

read more
Q+A: Getting the message across: What is public diplomacy?

Q+A: Getting the message across: What is public diplomacy?

What is public diplomacy, and how effective can it be? While it has a long history, the study of public diplomacy is only becoming more salient in an age of globalisation and increasing digital communication posing both new challenges and opportunities for governments.

read more
Q+A: Is it time to stop using cars?

Q+A: Is it time to stop using cars?

A recent report from a team of researchers based at the University of Otago has found that our use of cars is harming both our health and our environment. Is it time to give up our cars?

read more
Q+A: What is going wrong inside New Zealand’s prisons?

Q+A: What is going wrong inside New Zealand’s prisons?

A recent report investigating the state of three New Zealand prisons found that low staffing numbers were straining conditions. Lachlan Balfour spoke with Liam Martin, Lecturer in Criminology at Victoria University, about the report and the state of prisons in New Zealand.

read more
Q+A: Why is the United States so polarised?

Q+A: Why is the United States so polarised?

What are the fault lines that have fractured politics in America? Julian Zelizer has analysed the historical roots of the present-day political turmoil, divisions, and partisanship in the US for his new book Fault Lines: A History of the United States Since 1974. 

read more
What is the ‘Alt-Right’?

What is the ‘Alt-Right’?

After the horrendous attacks in Christchurch, many people understandably have questions about the motives and ideology of the alleged attacker. Damon Berry analyses the role the alt-right might have played in the attacks.

read more
Terror in Christchurch: Analysing what happened 🔊

Terror in Christchurch: Analysing what happened 🔊

On Friday, March 15, a fascist-white supremacist attacked two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing fifty people. This was the deadliest terror attack in New Zealand since the 19th century and one of the worst mass shootings in modern times. But why did it happen? And what does this mean for New Zealand moving forward?

read more