About
Chris Trotter
Latest articles
Chris Trotter says nation-building isn’t just about erecting hospitals, schools and hydro-electric schemes, it’s about resourcing New Zealand’s artists to create and shape the development of a unique national character
3rd Jul 23, 8:26am
22
Chris Trotter says nation-building isn’t just about erecting hospitals, schools and hydro-electric schemes, it’s about resourcing New Zealand’s artists to create and shape the development of a unique national character
Chris Trotter says the only way to come anywhere near a true equality of outcomes, is to build a system sufficiently well-resourced to accommodate the needs of all New Zealand’s citizens – when they need them
26th Jun 23, 8:29am
90
Chris Trotter says the only way to come anywhere near a true equality of outcomes, is to build a system sufficiently well-resourced to accommodate the needs of all New Zealand’s citizens – when they need them
Listening to Christopher Luxon sledging New Zealand, the voters could be forgiven for thinking that, given the choice, the Leader of the Opposition would rather be leading Act, Chris Trotter says
19th Jun 23, 8:28am
92
Listening to Christopher Luxon sledging New Zealand, the voters could be forgiven for thinking that, given the choice, the Leader of the Opposition would rather be leading Act, Chris Trotter says
Chris Trotter assesses the strange scenario of RNZ's altered stories about Russia's invasion of Ukraine
12th Jun 23, 10:13am
42
Chris Trotter assesses the strange scenario of RNZ's altered stories about Russia's invasion of Ukraine
Chris Trotter says the irony of the long-running generational saga lies in how completely the moral relativism of 20th century youth has congealed into the moral absolutism of their hapless children in the Twenty-First
5th Jun 23, 10:32am
16
Chris Trotter says the irony of the long-running generational saga lies in how completely the moral relativism of 20th century youth has congealed into the moral absolutism of their hapless children in the Twenty-First
[updated]
Effective leaders develop political muscle-memory of their own – National should get one, Chris Trotter says
29th May 23, 9:32am
94
Effective leaders develop political muscle-memory of their own – National should get one, Chris Trotter says
Chris Trotter argues National needs to grasp the need to be kind if it wants to form a government after October's election
22nd May 23, 7:46am
180
Chris Trotter argues National needs to grasp the need to be kind if it wants to form a government after October's election
Chris Trotter says Labour and National should defer significant constitutional change till there has been an opportunity for all New Zealanders – Māori and Non-Māori – to engage openly on the full range of options for how their country might be governed
15th May 23, 8:22am
114
Chris Trotter says Labour and National should defer significant constitutional change till there has been an opportunity for all New Zealanders – Māori and Non-Māori – to engage openly on the full range of options for how their country might be governed
Chris Trotter asks: Is New Zealand about to experience storm-force winds from a radicalised Māori electorate?
8th May 23, 8:11am
110
Chris Trotter asks: Is New Zealand about to experience storm-force winds from a radicalised Māori electorate?
.jpg?itok=fAS6uxf-)
Chris Trotter probes tension within the Labour Party over dismantling the neoliberal status quo
1st May 23, 8:30am
156
Chris Trotter probes tension within the Labour Party over dismantling the neoliberal status quo
Is a smoothed path for Kiwis seeking Aussie citizenship the quid pro quo for New Zealand signing-on to AUKUS?
24th Apr 23, 8:14am
78
Is a smoothed path for Kiwis seeking Aussie citizenship the quid pro quo for New Zealand signing-on to AUKUS?
.jpg?itok=WFIKqENc)
Trained to espouse only the 'correct' version of reality, the idea of giving 'incorrect' ideas access to the mass media, must strike a large number of young journalists as just plain wrong
17th Apr 23, 7:41am
38
Trained to espouse only the 'correct' version of reality, the idea of giving 'incorrect' ideas access to the mass media, must strike a large number of young journalists as just plain wrong
Chris Trotter is watching a growing struggle within the Green Party where radical activists are battling the grown-ups for control, the outcome which may affect Labour's re-electability in October
10th Apr 23, 8:20am
74
Chris Trotter is watching a growing struggle within the Green Party where radical activists are battling the grown-ups for control, the outcome which may affect Labour's re-electability in October
.jpg?itok=6_ZmANya)
Chris Trotter argues Shamubeel Eaqub’s fingering of the Baby Boom Generation as the villains of the NZ Superannuation saga is just plain wrong
3rd Apr 23, 9:20am
136
Chris Trotter argues Shamubeel Eaqub’s fingering of the Baby Boom Generation as the villains of the NZ Superannuation saga is just plain wrong
.jpg?itok=9uA8KnoO)
Chris Trotter assesses what happened on Saturday at Auckland's Albert Park and what it means
27th Mar 23, 9:37am
87
Chris Trotter assesses what happened on Saturday at Auckland's Albert Park and what it means
Looking at Te Pāti Māori, Chris Trotter argues that not since Harry Holland’s Labour Party first entered Parliament in 1919 has the Crown been confronted by such an uncompromising threat to the status quo
20th Mar 23, 9:52am
76
Looking at Te Pāti Māori, Chris Trotter argues that not since Harry Holland’s Labour Party first entered Parliament in 1919 has the Crown been confronted by such an uncompromising threat to the status quo
.jpg?itok=AFGf60O_)
Chris Trotter ponders protests in Israel against planned judicial reforms from a New Zealand perspective
13th Mar 23, 7:34am
5
Chris Trotter ponders protests in Israel against planned judicial reforms from a New Zealand perspective
.jpg?itok=rVwS4nWK "Christopher Luxon.")
This Election Year, New Zealand desperately needs, and deserves, so much more than the 'least worst' option
6th Mar 23, 9:23am
134
This Election Year, New Zealand desperately needs, and deserves, so much more than the 'least worst' option
.jpg?itok=baNPK6MD)
For Chris Hipkins and Labour, the state highway to October has been rendered impassable by inaction and political slash. Christopher Luxon and National, meanwhile, have discovered an unsealed road without slips and fallen trees
27th Feb 23, 9:32am
165
For Chris Hipkins and Labour, the state highway to October has been rendered impassable by inaction and political slash. Christopher Luxon and National, meanwhile, have discovered an unsealed road without slips and fallen trees
.jpg?itok=Wlt_e8Iu)
Cyclone Gabrielle’s lesson is that NZ’s climate change adaptation efforts have been woefully insufficient, and much more work is needed if we are to survive this 'time of consequences'
20th Feb 23, 7:42am
142
Cyclone Gabrielle’s lesson is that NZ’s climate change adaptation efforts have been woefully insufficient, and much more work is needed if we are to survive this 'time of consequences'
.jpg?itok=efVk-B_H)
Is there a moral rationale for giving the claim that 'words breed deeds' the strongest possible legal expression?
13th Feb 23, 7:31am
38
Is there a moral rationale for giving the claim that 'words breed deeds' the strongest possible legal expression?
Auckland’s Mayor, Wayne Brown, has apologised for his flood-related failings. Will his critics have the decency to do the same? asks Chris Trotter
6th Feb 23, 8:00am
142
Auckland’s Mayor, Wayne Brown, has apologised for his flood-related failings. Will his critics have the decency to do the same? asks Chris Trotter
Chris Trotter notes that the power and indifference of the natural world was terrifyingly reiterated in Auckland's extreme weather weekend. All we can do is adapt as fast as we can. Is the NZ state up to a challenge of this magnitude?
30th Jan 23, 9:00am
200
Chris Trotter notes that the power and indifference of the natural world was terrifyingly reiterated in Auckland's extreme weather weekend. All we can do is adapt as fast as we can. Is the NZ state up to a challenge of this magnitude?
Chris Trotter says if 'Chippy' is able to steer Labour into less contentious and more bounteous electoral waters, then Jacinda Ardern’s sacrifice will not have been in vain
23rd Jan 23, 8:18am
117
Chris Trotter says if 'Chippy' is able to steer Labour into less contentious and more bounteous electoral waters, then Jacinda Ardern’s sacrifice will not have been in vain
A civilisation in which the law may be broken with impunity will not remain a civilisation very long – writes Chris Trotter
16th Jan 23, 8:47am
112
A civilisation in which the law may be broken with impunity will not remain a civilisation very long – writes Chris Trotter