Heather du Plessis-Allan: We can't stop Australia deporting NZ-born criminals, but we can help them once they're here

The Australian change of heart on the 501s didn't last long did it, ay? 

They flipped their position today. They've issued a new directive. Now, what this is going to do essentially is it's going to force decision-makers when they’re considering whether to send a 501 back to New Zealand, or wherever else: they now have to put more emphasis on Australian safety when they make their decision. 

Capitalist: Is There Gas in the Car?

"Kid Charlemagne” is my favourite song by Steely Dan, another marvelous band from the 1970s; second only to Mott The Hoople, of course. The song tells the story of a man with the rather grand sounding name of Augustus Owsley Stanley, a scion of a very prominent Kentucky family, who basically invented the modern LSD trade. Stanley was part of the San Francisco music and counterculture movement during the 1960s and as a sideline he made LSD – around 5 million(!) doses – understandably and quickly becoming a rather popular fellow.

Kerre Woodham: 501 deportees halved under the common-sense approach

A couple of good news stories in the news cycle today - a rare and marvellous and wonderful thing!

In light of the traffic and roading conversation we were having yesterday, great news that State Highway 25A between Kopu and Hikuai will reopen to traffic in time for Christmas, three months earlier than anticipated and under budget. I mean, it shocked me.