Explainer | From Shadows to Sentences: Key Changes in New Zealand’s Proposed Anti-Stalking Law
Written by Amelie Lim In an age where the boundary between attention and intrusion is increasingly blurred, stalking has become an elusive yet insidious epidemic in New Zealand (Williams, 2024). The constantly evolving nature of stalking has made it difficult to define and, subsequently, even more challenging to prosecute. In response to these concerns, the […]
Opinion | The Debt Crisis: Why Governments Must Face Fiscal Reality
Written by Liam Bendall One hundred trillion U.S. dollars is a figure so vast it defies comprehension. With that amount, you could buy Amazon 47 times over. You could end world hunger several times over. What may shock you, however, is that figure is roughly the equivalent of the combined government debt worldwide (International Monetary […]
Explainer | The 2025 Budget in a Nutshell
Editors’ note: all figures in the article can be found in the Summary of Initiatives document on the Treasury’s Budget2025 website. Written by Daniel Blundell The Government recently released their 2025 Budget, outlining where it will be spending New Zealanders’ money for the next fiscal year. For 2025/26, key aspects of the Budget include an […]
Explainer | Exploring the Regulatory Standards Bill
Written by Binoli Goonatillake Over its term so far, the coalition government has introduced a number of controversial bills, some of which have passed into legislation and some of which have not. The Regulatory Standards Bill, spearheaded by the leader of the ACT Party, David Seymour, was introduced to Parliament on 19 May 2025 and […]
Opinion | A Losing Bet: Are We Doing Enough to Prevent Gambling Harm in Young New Zealanders?
Written by Yeonsoo Son The 2023/24 New Zealand Gambling Survey paints a stark picture of escalating youth vulnerability: approximately 26,000 individuals aged 15 to 24 now fall within the moderate-to-high-risk categories for gambling-related harm (Health New Zealand, 2025). One in three secondary school students have gambled before (Rossen et al., 2013), and disturbing reports have […]
Explainer | Legally Prescribed: The Medicines Amendment Bill in Plain English
Written by Niamh Henwood The New Zealand Government introduced the Medicines Amendment Bill to the House of Representatives on the 31st of March this year, with the aim of improving and streamlining access to medication, both for patients and medical professionals. But what is the bill amending? How will access be improved and streamlined? What […]
Opinion | A Salad Bar of Narratives: Deconstructing the Recent India-Pakistan Conflict, One Ideology at a Time
Written by Shreya Bakhshi April 22, 2025, began like any other spring day in Kashmir – pleasant, breezy, serene – until four men targeted and killed 26 Indian tourists in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam. This attack was not the first, and as history suggests, will likely not be the last in the Indian-administered Kashmir valley. What […]
Explainer | U.S. Foreign Policy in the Pacific: The Strategic Importance of New Zealand
Written by Dulmi de Silva Introduction The Pacific Islands have re-emerged as a key focus of twenty-first-century geopolitics. As China expands its influence across the region through aid, infrastructure, and security cooperation, the United States has renewed its engagement to counterbalance China’s presence. Central to this effort is the Pacific Partnership Strategy, which outlines a […]
Explainer | Understanding Protectionism: Global Policy, Volatile Effect
Written by Paige Stephens The volatile global economy has seen a re-emergence of complex and unpredictable trade policies. As impulsive and powerful governments such as the Trump administration attempt to strengthen domestic industries, the media frequently discusses protectionism. Despite its relevance in the global economy, many are not fully aware of the issue. So, what is […]
Explainer | Less Paperwork, More Protection? A Breakdown of the New Health and Safety at Work Act Reforms
Written by Asil Kutty The New Zealand Government is making significant changes to its workplace health and safety laws, focusing on benefiting smaller businesses. These reforms are expected to reduce ‘excessive’ regulations, shift the focus to preventing significant workplace risks, and ease administrative burdens for small businesses. This shift aims to create a more optimistic […]