Every time Anne Tolley and Bill English talk about the new Ministry for Vulnerable Children, or oppose an inquiry into the historical abuse of children in state care, it sticks like a knife in my guts. I am Ngāti Porou through my mother, and I’m Weira — Welsh — through my father. After spending 14 Read more
The Abortion Supervisory Committee has recommended an update of New Zeleand’s abortion laws. Prime Minister Bill English disagrees. On the other hand Labour leader, Andrew Little believes reform is necessary as does his newly elected deputy, Jacinda Ardern. On TVNZ’s Q & A programme on Sunday morning English told interviewer Corrin Dann that he is Read more
With thirty years of marriage, six kids, and a record of pro-life and pro-family voting behind him, New Zealand’s new Prime Minister, Bill English, has a pretty good record for a politician in a very secularised Western country. Of course, he hasn’t done it all on his own. His wife, Mary, who is also a Read more
Tomorrow Bill English has his first pyjama party with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull in Queenstown. This style of diplomacy has been going on for a number of years. Whether it’s morning-after kayaking on Sydney harbour or taking in our own Southern Alps, the annual Prime Ministerial sleepover says a lot about the relationship between New Zealand Read more
Last week the deputy prime minister, Bill English visited Challenge 2000, a Youth Development, Community and Family Social Work agency based in Johnsonville, near Wellington. Challenge staff discussed with English the services they provide to youth and how they could help if the age at which people are referred to the adult court was raised Read more
Last week the deputy prime minister, and minister of finance Bill English spent almost an hour year with 13 students at St John’s College in Hamilton. “They’re enquiring, they’re confident to ask. At that age, I would never have asked a politician a question, certainly not in public,” he said. “They’re watching the world. There Read more
Finance Minister Bill English and Wellington businessman Brian McGuinness were named joint winners of the old boy of the year award at a St Patrick’s College Old Boys Association dinner in Wellington last week. English is an old boy of St Pat’s Silverstream, where he was a boarder and became head boy. English said it Read more
Economist Brian Easton says New Zealand’s sexy image on the global business stage does not necessarily translate to a better life for those on low incomes, particularly women and children. Easton, who’s recently published a user’s guide to economic inequality, says inequality is difficult to measure. One indicator might show it going up while another Read more
More government action is needed to address high unemployment and a widening income gap for Pacific people according to a Salvation Army report, “More Than Churches, Rugby and Festivals”. The report claims Pacific people now have the highest unemployment, the lowest incomes and a widening income gap that could mean they’re left behind when the economy Read more
A friend recently posted on Facebook “Sleeping in the lounge with the children to stay warm….Brrrr”. I wasn’t sure whether to laugh or feel sad about this. I can relate to the fact that it is a cold winter and my old 1950’s cottage is a challenge to heat up even with several heaters on Read more