Jason Walls: Toothless Kāinga Ora must be given the power to evict violent tenants

There seems to be a problem at New Zealand’s social housing agency – Kāinga Ora.

They either can’t, or won’t, evict tenants no matter how much harm they cause to their neighbours.

Karl du Fresne: Suddenly, the media are unimportant - and it hurts

I sometimes wonder whether political reporters ever pause to think how precious and entitled their behaviour looks to outsiders.
I doubt it. They are too self-absorbed.

Right now, members of the parliamentary press gallery are feeling peevish. After feasting for years on a rich banquet of political news and sensation, they suddenly find themselves on starvation rations. And they’re not taking it well.

Jason Walls: Surprised the leaders’ debate was a snoozefest? You haven’t been paying attention

The first televised leader’s debate of the 2023 election campaign proved that blue paint dries slightly faster than red paint.  

Political editors and commentators broadly agreed that Chris Luxon was the winner, in what was probably the most lacklustre debate in more than a decade.  

There was no instantly iconic “show me the money,” or “this stardust won't settle” line from either of the Chrises – and certainly no “my husband is from Samoan, so Talofa”.  

Barry Soper & Jason Walls: Auckland surgeons must now consider ethnicity in prioritising patients for operations - some are not happy

Auckland surgeons are now being required to consider a patient’s ethnicity alongside other factors when deciding who should get an operation first.

Several surgeons say they are upset by the policy, which was introduced in Auckland in February and gave priority to Māori and Pacific Island patients - on the grounds that they have historically had unequal access to healthcare.

Jason Walls: Mallard’s revenge – Is banning Winston from Parliament a step too far?

Speaker of the House bans former Deputy Prime Minister from Parliament is one hell of a headline.

But that looks to be the current state of play in the Capital.

After attending the anti-mandate protests for the better part of an afternoon two months ago, Winston Peters has been issued a trespass notice from Parliament.

That means he can’t come onto the grounds, or inside the hallowed halls, for at least two years.

If he does, he faces a fine or even jail time.

It’s a significant move from Parliament’s security team – and by extension the man in charge, Trevor Mallard.