Opinion
Has Labour lost touch with working Kiwis?
OPINION: The fact that poverty persists does not make aspiration futile.
Latest from Jonathan Ayling
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
We may not need another Bob Jones, but we could use a circuit breaker like him
OPINION: It's not the challenges NZ will face, but the Kiwis who rise to those challenges.
Rhetoric no match for policy when faced with a tough campaign crowd
OPINION: Talk is cheap in friendly settings, arguments are needed when facing an opponent.
UNDRIP an authoritative fig leaf for undermining our system of government
OPINION: We do not need to endorse a UN declaration to honour our Treaty obligations.
Jonathan Ayling: What does the National Party actually stand for?
OPINION: Governing from the centre is fine, but core beliefs are still a requirement.
Jonathan Ayling: Digital ID doesn’t have to be dystopian, it could save democracy
OPINION: Should the Government know more about us, or can technology decentralise trust?
Jonathan Ayling: Kiwi businesses must take 'eyes wide open approach' to China
OPINION: Just because it isn't spying on us doesn't mean we should disengage with China.
Greens' marae fund proposal risks iwi independence
OPINION: Taxpayers should not fund cultural institutions in post-settlement NZ.
What does it say about society when we fail to have children?
OPINION: Without faith in the future, we risk losing belief in the importance of children.
Councillors may be elected but who wields the real power?
OPINION: Local government reform is needed, but beware the power of the bureaucrats.
Finding God in the App Store
OPINION: Could AI help us reveal our true selves, or simply make us more robotic?
In a world of words, how many of us are actually reading?
OPINION: A well-read population is key to a functioning, informed democracy.
Jonathan Ayling: It is not the state’s responsibility to feed our children
OPINION: School lunch drama shows Govt forced to perform a task it was never supposed to.
Jonathan Ayling: America’s crisis is not power, but searching purpose in the 21st Century
OPINION: The world's most powerful nation has forgotten the truths that made it great.
Jonathan Ayling: Greens’ tax policy best chance to produce first Kiwi trillionaire
The Greens’ tax plan is criticised as likely to devalue, not create, wealth.
Jonathan Ayling: Ministers must hold regulators to account
The move comes as a new Bill strengthens ministerial power over regulators.
Jonathan Ayling: Democracy cannot mean bypassing voters
Mariameno Kapa-Kingi argues Wellington should not dictate local governance.
Jonathan Ayling: If our nuclear-free stance still makes sense, it can survive debate
OPINION: Chris Penk quickly backtracked after hinting NZ could revisit its nuclear stance.
Jonathan Ayling: Labour shouldn't simply rely on 'the vibe' to return it to power
OPINION: What looks like a good political strategy now could cost the party later.
Jonathan Ayling: Immigration works when it strengthens society and the economy
OPINION: A free society can tolerate disagreement if people agree to disagree peacefully.
Jonathan Ayling: Fees-free was bad policy, interest-free loans are even worse
OPINION: Why is the Government removing one middle-class subsidy and not another?
Jonathan Ayling: When doing ‘something’ means doing ‘anything’, everything just gets worse
OPINION: Politicians need to understand the issues before trying to provide answers.
Jonathan Ayling: The Government cannot love thy neighbour for you
OPINION: Everyday Kiwis must provide the raw materials for a caring society
Jonathan Ayling: We have lessons to learn about parents in education
OPINION: There is no substitute for a parent or guardian in a child's education.
Jonathan Ayling: Profit needn't be a dirty word
OPINION: Profit earned through value – not power imbalance – is a good thing.
Jonathan Ayling: Winston is many things, but a social conservative ain't one of them
OPINION: The NZ First leader is a chameleon who benefits from voters' short memories.
Jonathan Ayling: A defensible decision can still be a bad one
OPINION: Kiwis must have faith in their institutions and trust the judgments they make.
Jonathan Ayling: The math is simple – our superannuation structure is unaffordable
OPINION: A mature society wants to ensure future generations have it better.
Jonathan Ayling: Ideology has no place in Medical Council regulations
OPINION: Government by the people is a farce if the people are not free to think.
Jonathan Ayling: Peace is a goal we must fight to achieve
OPINION: International laws must be grounded in shared beliefs.
Jonathan Ayling: Andrew's arrest shows rule of law still strong - but there are weak points
OPINION: Call for constitutional change one of the biggest threats to rule of law in NZ
Jonathan Ayling: Kiwis have nothing to fear from the Chinese people, their government, not so much
OPINION: It's time we took our sovereignty and the values underpinning it more seriously.