The Government is being accused of undermining four Uber drivers’ legal battle to be treated as employees, by pushing ahead with a review of the contractor/employee distinction while the case is still going through the courts. nzherald.co.nz/business/gover…

This weekend’s column looks at John Key’s bipartisan moment in 2007, over the anti-smacking bill, and asks: does Chris Luxon have it in him to do the same? And if so, what should be the issue? Hint: agreeing a pipeline of infrastructure projects. thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350340…

GNS Science is proposing to cut more than 10% of its workforce undermining its critical work helping New Zealand adapt to climate change and manage natural hazards and risks from earthquakes, tsunami and volcanic eruptions. Read the full media release: bit.ly/3ylMOj8

The govt is very focused on improving school attendance. It also wants to rollback standards for insulation that, by making houses warmer and reducing severity of asthma and the like, *reduces* the number of days of school that children miss. #joinedupgovt phcc.org.nz/briefing/new-z…

My The Spinoff latest looks at the data on what happened last time National cracked down on beneficiaries. Spoiler alert: it wasn't great. thespinoff.co.nz/politics/15-08…

Listening to Trump's unhinged claims about immigrants eating people's pets, I was reminded of these gems from 2000s-era UK tabloids, when I was working in London. Both totally false, of course. Fascinating, and awful, that this is seen as a powerful way to demonise others.

NZ is virtually the only developed country without a capital gains tax. Yet a CGT could help fund the public services, and investment, that our economy needs to overcome its 'sweating not investing' dilemma. My weekend column in the Post. thepost.co.nz/nz-news/350423…