Articles from ‘’ in ‘Opinion’

No one can say with confidence what our COVID-9 world is going to look like over the next 12 to 24 months. The rules and models of the old world no longer hold. It is this uncertainty itself that adds great stress, overlaying the fear of specific scenarios. Times like these can bring out true leaders but also false prophets. Trying to distinguish between them is much easier in retrospect than at the time. · All great leaders instil confidence…

The Government’s state of emergency has created a dangerous political vacuum. Decisions that profoundly affect everyone’s lives are being undertaken in an autocratic fashion without any attempt at democratic involvement. · Even the typically reserved Law Society has raised concerns about the lack of transparency and consultation associated with the lockdown: “As far as possible, there should be an ongoing attempt to replicate the normal policy…

Since January, I have been following international coverage and debate about Covid-19 closely. Looking back over almost three months now, what seems extraordinary is how flat footed the international response has been. An exception to that has been that of the much-maligned World Health Organisation (WHO), which from the outset has endeavoured to provide information and advice as soon as it could. That is not easy in contexts where not all…

The Health Ministry must be more transparent with the information it's giving to the public. · Like all journalists in New Zealand right now, I've been covering stories day after day, all of which relate to our current coronavirus crisis. · It's the longest-running, bulletin dominating story I've ever known and is impacting every single Kiwi, young and old. · Given the ongoing significance of this epidemic, we as journalists need swift,…

New Zealand has changed dramatically in a week in response to Covid-19. Fundamental rights and liberties have been curtailed to assist in suppressing the virus. From a legal history perspective, this is similar to what New Zealand experienced in World War I and II and during the 1951 Waterfront Dispute. · It is unclear how long these measures will be necessary. At the present time we just don't have enough data to confirm the severity of this…